To protect humpbacked mahseer species, the Karnataka Forest Department has partnered with Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation to breed it.
- Found in Cauvery river basin: The humpbacked mahseer is a large freshwater fish and found only in the Cauvery river basin (including Kerala’s Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani rivers). The fish ranges include; Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- IUCN Status: It is ‘critically endangered’ species, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. It is threatened due to increased fishing and introduction of other foreign fish species.
- Tiger of Water: This fish, also known as the ‘Tiger of the water’ due to the fight it puts up, known to grow up to 1.5 metres in length and weigh about 55 kg.
- Scientific name: The Humpbacked Mahseer got its scientific name Tor remadevii—in June 2018.
(Sources: The Hindu and The Print)
