A giant fish thought to be extinct has been spotted in the Mekong River. Photos and video

A giant fish that was thought to be extinct has been spotted in the Mekong River. Scientists have found that it has been spotted three times in recent years.

The giant salmon carp is known as a symbol of the Mekong region. It can grow over a meter long and has a yellow stripe around its eyes. The last recorded sighting was in 2005 - until scientists released a study detailing three other records of the fish, Ap News reports.

Since 2017, biologists tracking migratory fish species in Cambodia have established relationships with local fishing communities, asking them to report any unusual sightings. That's how three giant salmon carp found in the Mekong River and its tributary in Cambodia between 2020 and 2023 caught the attention of researchers.

"I was really surprised and excited when I first saw this fish. This rediscovery is very exciting, positive news. I thought it was probably extinct, and so to hear that it's been found again - I've been waiting for this news for 20 years," said Zeb Hogan, a fisheries biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, who participated in the study.

Researchers say the sightings give them new hope for the species' fate. But the fish's plight also highlights the dangers faced by all migratory species in the Mekong, which is facing industrial pollution and overfishing.

Biologists hope that cooperation with local communities in Thailand and Laos will allow them to confirm whether the fish still swims in other parts of the Mekong River.

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