Giant
fishes to appear in TV series
Copyright
© Zeb Hogan
Giant
fishes, including those said to have eaten dogs and cats, are to appear
in a new television series on the National Geographic Channel.
The
Monster Fish series, which is hosted by Zeb Hogan, the biologist
working on the National Geographic Society and World Wildlife Fund
MegaFishes project, offers a mix of "science, adventure and
exploration".
Among the highlights are expeditions up the Amazon and the remote Rio
Roosevelt, a 400-mile river in western Brazil, which is relatively
unexplored by modern biologists.
Giant fishes
The programme features introduced Asian carp, the Alligator gar, Wels,
giant 600-pound Siamese carp, 10 foot long Mekong catfish and giant
freshwater stingrays.
"Four
of the shows focus on invasive species issues, where the giant fish are
taking over new habitats", said Hogan.
"This
series of shows focuses heavily on invasive-species issues, a
critically important topic for the health of aquatic ecosystems like
Lake Tahoe, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes.
"I'm alarmed by what I’ve learned. These carp put on several pounds
each year, a phenomenal growth rate. They quickly outgrow any predators
but humans. Native fish don't stand a chance against them; they can
grow to almost 100 pounds."
MegaFishes Project
The MegaFishes Project is described as the world's first attempt to
document and protect the planet's freshwater giants.
Many of the world's largest fish species, including the Giant Mekong
catfish, Pangasius gigas, the Giant Mekong stingray, Himantura
chaophraya, as well as sturgeons and arapaima are "disappearing at an
alarming rate."
Published: Matt
Clarke Thursday 22 July
2010, 11:44 am
Views: 3,564 times
Filed under: MegaFishes giant
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