Know Why Scientists Are Concerned Over Discovery Of Alligator Gar Fish In Kashmir's Dal Lake

A recent rare find in Kashmir’s Dal Lake has researchers rather concerned about the famous water body. Dal Lake?has been a major tourist attraction for a long time in the city of Srinagar. The lake is not only known for its scenic views but also for the abundant population of houseboats it inhabits.?

Rare Alligator Gar Fish Found In Kashmir's Dal Lake

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Recently, Dr. Tariq Tramboo shared a video on Twitter revealing that an alligator gar fish had been found in Dal Lake by a local. The fish, although certainly not a threat to human life, still endangers the local ecosystem of the lake, which has raised concerns among researchers and scientists.?

The alligator gar fish is native to?North America?and can be found in some parts of Bhopal and Kerala. Given the existing knowledge of the species' whereabouts in the world, researchers are still confused about how the fish got caught all the way up in the mountain regions of Kashmir.

In a conversation with PTI, Dr. Shafeeqa Peer, a scientist at the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), said, "This is an Alligator Gar fish which is normally found in North America and some parts of India like Bhopal's upper lake and Kerala's backwaters. Being a predator fish and a carnivore, it poses a threat to native species of Dal Lake."

He added, "What will be the fate of our native fishes? In certain places like Bhopal, it has been banned as it thrives on other small fishes. It poses a threat to other species and we have not yet come across this type of species here."

LMCA Is Working With SKUAST To Find Any Other Such Fish In The Lake

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The LMCA is currently in contact with the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Division of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. They are working together to find out if there are more such fish in the lake at the moment.

Peer continued, "We will launch a massive hunt to ascertain whether it is just one fish, is it accidental or somebody has played mischief? There are a lot of questions, especially from the ecology and biodiversity point of view."

Tramboo, who posted a video of the fish, also wrote in his tweet, "Unfortunately, stories of alligator gar attacking people and dramatizations in popular television shows have given these gentle giants a bad rap."

Though he deferred, "But - The biggest threat these species pose is the destruction of the local ecosystem. They will feed on native fishes and the vulnerable and endangered fishes would steadily disappear."

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