More than 70 giant freshwater stingrays have been found dead in Thailand’s Mae Klong River over the past few weeks because of suspected pollution – some of them measuring in as big as cars.
One sting ray found recently alive in the Mae Klong River was a massive 7.9 feet across and 14 foot long and weighed an estimated 800 pounds.
The giant sting ray is the world’s largest freshwater fish, and is found in South East Asia and Australia. They are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and scientists are hoping to find out more about the animal to better understand exactly how many are left and more about their biology.
Also known as the whip-ray, it’s unknown for certain why the giant fish have been dying off at such an alarming rate, though the acidic nature of the river and a recent spill from an ethanol plant are suspected of having poisoned the rays.
