Zeb Hogan Giant freshwater stingray expeditions
 Fishsiam Ltd Thailand is proud to announce an exciting series of research
expeditions for the coming year in search of Giant
freshwater stingray in association with emerging National Geographic explorer Dr.Zeb Hogan and expert veterinary scientists from
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Conservation minded anglers will be given the unique opportunity to fish alongside Dr.Zeb Hogan during field trips to various
locations in search of Giant freshwater stingray.
Megafishes project Director Dr.Zeb Hogan will be working alongside Associate Professor Dr.Nantaika Chansue with her expert team
of aquatic veterinary scientists from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in an attempt to mount the world’s first comprehensive
study of the awesome Himantura Chaophraya / Giant freshwater stingray.
The forthcoming research expeditions which have official approval from the Department of Fisheries in Thailand will see
conservation minded anglers fishing at various locations throughout Thailand in search of the mythical Giant freshwater stingray.
With our expert team of Thai fishing guides anglers will be pushed to their absoloute physical limits in pursuit of what has been
described as possibly the largest freshwater fish in the world whilst also contributing to science.
Dr.Zeb Hogan and the Chulalongkorn University scientific team will personally examine all Giant freshwater stingrays caught by
visiting anglers.
All fish caught whilst fishing on these expeditions will undergo a variety of scientific examinations performed by scientists whilst
onsite in the field.
The expert team of scientists from Chulalongkorn University under the direction of Dr.Nantaika Chansue will be assisted by Dr.Zeb
Hogan whilst performing Ultrasound, DNA, Tissue and Toxicology tests in addition to acoustically tagging all Giant Freshwater Stingray
in order to track these mighty prehistoric creatures throughout the massive tidal river systems that they inhabit.
Early exploratory expeditions have produced impressive results with ninety-six individual Giant freshwater stingray captures
culminating in the capture of a record breaking Giant Freshwater Stingray estimated to weigh 265kg-350kg’s.
 The Fishsiam team working alongside Chulalongkorn University and Dr.Zeb Hogan has successfully acoustically tagged and released
eighteen individual Giant freshwater stingrays. Scientists are currently monitoring the movements of this most highly enigmatic of
freshwater monster fish with state of the art receivers which have been deployed at strategic points on the rivers.
Information gained from this groundbreaking research project will be crucial in gaining a further understanding of this most
elusive of River Monsters whilst giving a valuable insight into population densities of Giant Freshwater Stingray in Thailand.
The objective of this exciting research project is to acoustically tag 40-50 fish in both the Maeklong and Ban Pakong Rivers in
Thailand with a view as to possibly expanding the project to other rivers throughout Thailand in the coming years.
Blood and tissue samples collected whilst in the field will be compared with samples taken from various specimens from different
rivers for genetic analysis.
In addition Toxicology samples collected in the field will be used by Dr.Nantaika Chansue in the future construction of a vaccine
to combat the effect of the poisonous mucus located on the barb of Giant freshwater stingrays.
With the research of Giant freshwater stingray still in its infancy anglers becoming involved in these research expeditions
will be contributing to the further research and conservation of this prehistoric ‘Living Fossil’.
Fishsiam Ltd will be contributing $100 from each expedition towards the research of Giant Freshwater stingray's and other
Megafish found in Thailand including Mekong Catfish and Giant Siamese Carp.
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