Scary and Rare Fish Captured in Pasig River

11/7/2014 | 2:24 0 Posted in Local Issues

11/07/2014 – Manila | Residents of Guadalupe were trembling in fear Wednesday night after a local angler caught an unusual creature that locals have never seen before. The one-eyed shark-like fish is about 2.7 feet long and weighs 2.8 kilograms. The fish is currently held at BFAR Binangonan Station for further studies.

Leonito Elefante, 28, and resident of Guadalupe Makati was angling for more than an hour without a catch when he feels something big was stuck in his angle. Because the place was dark, he thought he caught a giant mud-fish when he pulled-up his rod but was startled when he brought the catch under the light.

“I was scared when I saw what I got. The first thing that I saw was its single eye and until now the look of that eye is still hunting me. I wasn’t able to sleep last night. I thought of returning the creature to the water but I was so afraid to hold it”, the terrified Elefante told officials of BFAR and reporters.

Elefante immediately reported the incident to the nearest ferry station guards and after an hour, officials of BFAR arrived at the scene. The fish remained alive until now and there is a mystery surrounding why the creature is still alive even after pulling it out of the water for several hours.

More than 100 people witnessed the incident. Makati Police has already dispatched special unit to search the surrounding areas of Pasig River hoping to catch a similar bigger fish.

Officials of BFAR have already contacted experts from National Geographic and are expected to arrive this week.

Dr. Amando Rogas of BFAR told reporters that the creature is a possible result of mutation due to excessive waste on Pasig River, and different types of chemicals and garbage are the main factors.

“We are expecting to see more odd things in Pasig River if the condition remains the same”, Dr. Rogas told local reporters Thursday morning.

/Fanny Jalacjac/ Assisted Press Manila