Have you ever heard about the Arapaima before? If not, let’s just say it is a fish, a big one, so big that it is considered as the world’s largest fresh water fish. On an average it’s length can range from 6 ft to sometimes even over 8 ft. It lives in South America especially in and around the Amazon. The problem is that these fishes are under red alert as they are becoming a victim of overfishing. Their number has drastically reduced in the last few years. And if we don’t do anything about it, the species can very soon be extinct.

“Due to its impressive size, and the fact that it must rise to the river’s surface for air, the arapaima is an easy target for net or spear fishing.” As per BBC, the only way these fishes can survive is by direct involvement of the local government and by controlled fisheries. Let’s hope the people around that region realize this and help save earth from loosing yet one more of her creations.

[source: treehugger.com]

[photo: flickr.com]