Monster Fish, Part 3: Elusive Giant Rays | Nat Geo Live

some of you may not know but there are

some of you may not know but there are stingrays in freshwater there are

stingrays in freshwater there are

stingrays in freshwater there are probably 30 or so species of stingrays

probably 30 or so species of stingrays

probably 30 or so species of stingrays that live in freshwater and three of

that live in freshwater and three of

that live in freshwater and three of those species are some of the world’s

those species are some of the world’s

those species are some of the world’s largest freshwater fish the first

largest freshwater fish the first

largest freshwater fish the first project that we had it was on the

project that we had it was on the

project that we had it was on the species here the giant freshwater

species here the giant freshwater

species here the giant freshwater stingray that’s found in Southeast Asia

stingray that’s found in Southeast Asia

stingray that’s found in Southeast Asia and so we worked with the recreational

and so we worked with the recreational

and so we worked with the recreational anglers to catch tag and release these

anglers to catch tag and release these

anglers to catch tag and release these fish to try to get information about

fish to try to get information about

fish to try to get information about their movement patterns this is a video

their movement patterns this is a video

their movement patterns this is a video of us trying to catch one of these big

of us trying to catch one of these big

of us trying to catch one of these big fish so that we can get measurements

we have it haha there did we tie the

we have it haha there did we tie the barb to get a closer look this could be

barb to get a closer look this could be

barb to get a closer look this could be the largest ray that I’ve ever seen and

the largest ray that I’ve ever seen and

the largest ray that I’ve ever seen and it could be the biggest freshwater fish

it could be the biggest freshwater fish

it could be the biggest freshwater fish on earth so let’s get a total length

on earth so let’s get a total length

on earth so let’s get a total length it’s 12 feet long and now I really want

it’s 12 feet long and now I really want

it’s 12 feet long and now I really want to get a whip seven feet two inches wide

to get a whip seven feet two inches wide

to get a whip seven feet two inches wide this is the biggest freshwater stingray

this is the biggest freshwater stingray

this is the biggest freshwater stingray I’ve seen so this ray is probably 400

I’ve seen so this ray is probably 400

I’ve seen so this ray is probably 400 maximum 500 pounds as big as it is I

maximum 500 pounds as big as it is I

maximum 500 pounds as big as it is I don’t think it’s a world record all care

don’t think it’s a world record all care

don’t think it’s a world record all care cuz ah there you go this is the second

cuz ah there you go this is the second

cuz ah there you go this is the second species of big freshwater ray this is

species of big freshwater ray this is

species of big freshwater ray this is called a short-tailed River ray and we

called a short-tailed River ray and we

called a short-tailed River ray and we were down in Argentina trying to find

were down in Argentina trying to find

were down in Argentina trying to find this ray and we know next to nothing

this ray and we know next to nothing

this ray and we know next to nothing about these fish one of the reasons why

about these fish one of the reasons why

about these fish one of the reasons why we don’t know very much their camouflage

we don’t know very much their camouflage

we don’t know very much their camouflage they hide in the mud they’re so big that

they hide in the mud they’re so big that

they hide in the mud they’re so big that fishermen down there when they hook into

fishermen down there when they hook into

fishermen down there when they hook into one they don’t even try to land it they

one they don’t even try to land it they

one they don’t even try to land it they can’t even bring it up with the fishing

can’t even bring it up with the fishing

can’t even bring it up with the fishing gear that they use so this is a species

gear that they use so this is a species

gear that they use so this is a species that’s really in need of more study and

that’s really in need of more study and

that’s really in need of more study and then the third species of giant Ray

then the third species of giant Ray

then the third species of giant Ray occurs in northern Australia and it

occurs in northern Australia and it

occurs in northern Australia and it could be the biggest of all the Rays

could be the biggest of all the Rays

could be the biggest of all the Rays there are stories of Ray’s ten feet in

there are stories of Ray’s ten feet in

there are stories of Ray’s ten feet in width so that array than ten feet width

width so that array than ten feet width

width so that array than ten feet width it would probably be 20 feet long and

it would probably be 20 feet long and

it would probably be 20 feet long and that species I have a video of it here

that species I have a video of it here

that species I have a video of it here was only described in 2008

this is the the giant carp so the giant

this is the the giant carp so the giant carp it’s it’s now critically endangered

carp it’s it’s now critically endangered

carp it’s it’s now critically endangered so they’re very few these carp left and

so they’re very few these carp left and

so they’re very few these carp left and the only place I know that it’s still

the only place I know that it’s still

the only place I know that it’s still caught is in Cambodia on the Tonle Sap

caught is in Cambodia on the Tonle Sap

caught is in Cambodia on the Tonle Sap River in the week basically before the

River in the week basically before the

River in the week basically before the full moon in November and so you can

full moon in November and so you can

full moon in November and so you can imagine if you’re trying to study or

imagine if you’re trying to study or

imagine if you’re trying to study or better understand one of these fish and

better understand one of these fish and

better understand one of these fish and there’s only one place at one time of

there’s only one place at one time of

there’s only one place at one time of year in the world where you can find it

year in the world where you can find it

year in the world where you can find it it’s it’s a huge challenge and as you

it’s it’s a huge challenge and as you

it’s it’s a huge challenge and as you can probably guess a lot of these fish

can probably guess a lot of these fish

can probably guess a lot of these fish are endangered about 70% of them are

are endangered about 70% of them are

are endangered about 70% of them are risk of extinction this is a Chinese

risk of extinction this is a Chinese

risk of extinction this is a Chinese paddlefish found only in the Yangtze

paddlefish found only in the Yangtze

paddlefish found only in the Yangtze River very unusual fish long slender

River very unusual fish long slender

River very unusual fish long slender fish with a sword like snout that could

fish with a sword like snout that could

fish with a sword like snout that could get 20 feet long and to my knowledge

get 20 feet long and to my knowledge

get 20 feet long and to my knowledge none of these fish have been seen in

none of these fish have been seen in

none of these fish have been seen in several years so this could be the first

several years so this could be the first

several years so this could be the first one of these big fish that actually has

one of these big fish that actually has

one of these big fish that actually has disappeared but my concern is that if we

disappeared but my concern is that if we

disappeared but my concern is that if we don’t do something it might not be the

don’t do something it might not be the

don’t do something it might not be the last one thing I just want to emphasize

last one thing I just want to emphasize

last one thing I just want to emphasize these fish one thing they’re not is

these fish one thing they’re not is

these fish one thing they’re not is they’re not dangerous that fish it might

they’re not dangerous that fish it might

they’re not dangerous that fish it might look mean but it it’s not mean inside

look mean but it it’s not mean inside

look mean but it it’s not mean inside it’s not mean inside we’ve been swimming

it’s not mean inside we’ve been swimming

it’s not mean inside we’ve been swimming with pools and pools of 30 or 40 of

with pools and pools of 30 or 40 of

with pools and pools of 30 or 40 of these alligator gar and they don’t they

these alligator gar and they don’t they

these alligator gar and they don’t they don’t give you the time of day

don’t give you the time of day

don’t give you the time of day [Music]

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