The discovery of the invasive Crocodile Catfish in the Bahini River in the Basistha neighborhood of Guwahati has sparked worries about potential environmental damage. According to experts, the Crocodile Catfish, which consumes smaller fish and larvae, may disrupt the natural equilibrium and diminish native fish populations, endangering the local aquatic life. Their continued population growth may eventually have an impact on biodiversity.
The State Fishery Department has gathered samples for analysis in order to assess the threat level in reaction to the concerning discovery. The finding coincides with mounting worries about the proliferation of invasive species in Assamese waterways, which highlights the urgent need for action to save indigenous aquatic life. In the meantime, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) found a new species of pangolin in Arunachal Pradesh, India, early last month.
Known as the Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indoburmanica), the species was genetically different from Indian and Chinese pangolins that lived in India. In March 2024, ZSI researcher Lenrik Konchok Wangmo discovered a pangolin that had been captured by locals in Silluk village, East Siang district. The animal had been securely released into the Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary after a thorough investigation and DNA screening.