The river's keystone species

I was listening to this NPR Morning Edition and was intrigued by the segment. Click the link to hear the updated report.

Cambodia is home to the Mekong Giant Catfish, the biggest species of freshwater fish in the world. In the second of a two-part National Geographic Radio Expedition installment, Michael Sullivan reports on the efforts of a young American conservationist to save the species from extinction.

The giant catfish is endemic to the Mekong, weighing in excess of 250 kg (that's more than 551.16 pounds). Historically, it could be found throughout the Mekong Basin from Vietnam to China. Today its population is declining and endangered. WWF proposes studying these remaining populations and with that information, plan for their survival. Kudos to the conservationists for all their efforts because the health of the bottom dweller catfish tells the health of the river. The cancerous symtoms (skin, liver, and mouth tumors) on the catfish indicates the polution levels.

Locally here in the Anacostia River and its tributaries, especially in the Northwest Branch, our river is among the most contaminated river in the US. If you've ever gone catching (because fishing could imply you didn't hook any fish) at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, you'd notice the skin discolorations and the disturbing tumors surrounding the "lip" of the catfish. This is old knowledge to many of you, but I just want to put it out there so that you'd be reminded of your role in correlation to the environment. That is all.