Stingrays spotted in Kaohsiung’s Chengcing Lake have attracted quite a bit of attention. But why are they there?
A strange sight in Kaohsiung – stingrays spotted in the Chengcing Lake, have attracted quite a bit of attention. But what are stingrays doing here?
People have been speculating that the rays were probably bought and later abandoned in the lake by pet owners who regretted their purchase. The black diamond stingray is a freshwater fish native to the Amazon River. When it reaches 20 to 30 centimeters in diameter, its color gradually turns black, but the pattern becomes more and more obvious.
They were highly sought after at one time, reaching up to NT$200,000 (US$6,300) for a 30-centimeter specimen. Aquarium store owner Tsai Nien-yu (蔡念妤) says they are still quite popular but that the price has dropped significantly since the peak of the trend. Now, some might sell for as little as just NT$1,000 (US$30).
This is not the first time that stingrays have been found in Chengcing Lake. Over two years ago, a fisherman reeled in a stingray, prompting authorities to remove the invasive species from the lake. However, the efforts proved ineffective, and with new sightings emerging, the presence of exotic stingrays in Chengcing Lake has once again become a topic of discussion.