IMAGES: These images show large species of freshwater catfish from around the world: the Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) of Asia (top) and Wels catfish (Silurus glanis) of Europe (bottom).  The Mekong giant catfish in this image weighed in at 646 pounds (293 kilograms), and the Wels catfish tipped the scales at 187 pounds (85 kilograms). The Mekong giant catfish is critically endangered, but the Wels catfish isn’t considered endangered or threatened. The Wels catfish has been blamed for attacking swans, but “there are no recorded attacks on humans.” The goonch (Bagarius sp.), another species of large freshwater catfish (not pictured, but you can find images here) of India, is being blamed for preying on humans. Learn more about the conservation of giant freshwater fish here, because they are increasingly becoming endangered.

BREAK

Growing up in the south and being a freshwater fisherman, large catfish are both folklore and reality to me. In the south, some large catfish can be found in secluded farm ponds or around dams, and stories abound of divers observing huge catfish, particularly blue catfish, around dams across the south.

However, folklore seems to have evolved into an extreme reality in India where large catfish might be preying on humans. Some type of creature, in the sacred Hindu Great Kali River, has allegedly pulled three teenagers under its waters. Locals believe that a type of catfish called the goonch has grown large enough, after feeding on partially burnt corpses from funeral pyres, to prey on living humans.

Five, a television channel in the United Kingdom, is airing a special documentary about the man-eating catfish of the Great Kali River called “Nature Shock: Flesh Eating River Monster.” The documentary will be hosted by biologist Jeremy Wade, and “is due to screen on October 14 at 8.00pm on Five.” From the Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom:

Locals rumours have held for years that a mysterious monster lurks in the water.

But they think it has moved on from scavenging to targeting live bathers who swim in the Great Kali, which flows along the India-Nepal border.

The extraordinary creature has been investigated by biologist Jeremy Wade for a TV documentary to be shown on Five.

He said: “The locals have told me of a theory that this monster has grown extra large on a diet of partially burnt corpses. It has perhaps got this taste for flesh by feasting on remains of funeral pyres.

“There will be a few freak individuals that grow bigger than the other ones and if you throw in extra food, they will grow even bigger.”

.       .       .

In 2007 an 18-year-old Nepali disappeared in the river, dragged down by something described as like an “elongated pig”.

However, the first live victim of a goonch was thought to have been a 17-year-old Nepalese boy in April 1988.

Witnesses said he was cooling himself in the river when something suddenly pulled him below the surface.

Three months later a young boy was dragged underwater in front of his horrified father.

Mekong giant catfish image found here.
Wels catfish image found here.

On the Net: The Megafishes Project
On the Net: Village youths land giant fish – Prize of four-hour struggle: 86-kg Gangetic goonch

Related news: 226-pound catfish recently caught in Spain. You can read more about this large catch here.

More related news (updated 31 May 2009): REEL BIG FISH: 102-pound blue catfish caught in Virginia, may be new state record

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