RENO, Nev. – The elusive giant salmon carp, known as the “Mekong ghost,” has been rediscovered in Cambodia after nearly two decades, reigniting hope for its survival and prompting urgent conservation efforts for the Mekong River. The giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus), a critically endangered species, had not been documented since 2005.
An international team of scientists, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and collaborating with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, confirmed the existence of the species. Three fish were caught between 2020 and 2023, a significant finding for a species once feared extinct. The research, published in Biological Conservation, highlights the need for innovative conservation strategies to protect the salmon carp and the broader Mekong ecosystem.
“The rediscovery of the giant salmon carp is a reason for hope, not just for this species but for the entire Mekong ecosystem,” said Bunyeth Chan, lead researcher from Svay Rieng University in Cambodia. “The Mekong ecosystem is the most productive river on Earth, producing over two million tons of fish per year worth over $10 billion.”…