Maharashtra (Kolhapur): In a shocking observation, a fisherman Kishor Dalvi in Prayag Chikhali village in Karveer taluk of Kolhapur district in the state of Maharashtra have caught an invasive freshwater fish ‘The alligator Gar’ which looks like a crocodile in a Panchaganga river in Kolhapur on Saturday (July 17). According to the experts, it is native fish of North America and found in the Amazon river.
As a hobby, Kishor Dalvi and his brother Raghunath catch fish by setting a net in the Panchganga river during the rainy season. But, both were stunned when seeing this rare fish which had crocodile-shaped heads and sharp teeth. This fish is around three feet long and 3 kg in weight.
They showed this fish to the local fish merchant Shakeel Sayyad who informed them that this fish is found in the Amazon rivers in America and it is surprising to see this fish here. Dalvi has kept the fish in a glass vessel and informed the personnel of the forest department.
However, the experts have expressed worry about finding this fish in the Panchaganga river. This fish might have been smuggled for aquarium purposes. This fish is a threat to the native marine biodiversity since it is an invasive predator. These fishes are dangerous to any living being. Someone who had brought it for aquarium might have released it into a river after it has grown to three feet. This fish can even kill the man. The fisheries department should trace more of these fishes and prevent further breeding into Indian rivers. Otherwise, these fish damage the marine bio-diversity. It is also said that these fishes are found in the in Andhra and Tamil Nadu in fresh water and might have made return travel through Krishna river and opined more research work is required in this counter.
