According to Wildlife Extra, 12 different specimens of the endangered Giant freshwater stingray were caught in over the course of just 3-4 months last year. The findings where made in both the Ban Pakong and the Maeklong Rivers, and one of the specimens was a young stingray measuring no more than 12 cm (4.7 inches). This might be a sign that the Giant freshwater stringray is somehow managing to combat the dangerous pollutions that are contaminating its habitat.

The specimen that received most attention was of course the enormous stingray caught by Tom Parker from Coventry whilst on a guided fishing tour to the Ban Pakong River. After being measured and photographed, the rare fish was fortunately released back into the wild. The Giant freshwater stingray had a wingspan of 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) and weighing it turned out to be impossible for the fishing party.

A research project has now been launched by Dr Terry Bertozi of the Evolutionary Biology Unit of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Australia and the fishing company FishSiam in order to find out more about the elusive Giant freshwater stingray.

You can learn more reading the full article at Wildlife Extra: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/giant-stingray930.html

Stingrays have flat bodies that make it possible for them to stay hidden in under layers of sand at the bottom until an unsuspecting animal ventures close enough to become lunch. Some stingrays grow really huge, as the one in the article, but others can be kept in normal hobby aquariums. It is very important to provide them with a suitable substrate in the aquarium to allow them to carry out their natural habits. You can learn more about a few species of stingray that can be kept in aquariums here: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/predatory/sting.php