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More than 70 giant freshwater stingrays—some of them nearly as large as cars—have been found dead in Thailand's Mae Klong River over the past few weeks, according to National Geographic explorer Zeb Hogan, who is currently in the country studying the fish.
The die-off is alarming because so few of the river giants remain. Giant freshwater rays are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and scientists say they need to learn more about their populations and biology.
Thai officials are currently studying the dead rays with the goal of figuring out what killed them. They have reported that the river is slightly more acidic than typical around where the dead rays were found, though it's unclear if that is related yet.
Some Thai environmentalists have suspected a recent spill from an ethanol plant could have poisoned the rays. Others believe they may have been poisoned by cyanide, possibly intended to kill other more desirable fish.
Read more here. (National Geographic)
The die-off is alarming because so few of the river giants remain. Giant freshwater rays are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and scientists say they need to learn more about their populations and biology.
Thai officials are currently studying the dead rays with the goal of figuring out what killed them. They have reported that the river is slightly more acidic than typical around where the dead rays were found, though it's unclear if that is related yet.
Some Thai environmentalists have suspected a recent spill from an ethanol plant could have poisoned the rays. Others believe they may have been poisoned by cyanide, possibly intended to kill other more desirable fish.
Read more here. (National Geographic)
