Poachers, Politics, and Pirarucu: The Fight to Save a Prized Amazonian Fish

Photo Source - Google

The freshwater pirarucu is a large fish found in a lawless part of the Amazon jungle where Brazil, Peru, and Colombia meet, particularly in the Javari Valley.

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The pirarucu has been a staple food for Indigenous people living in the Javari Valley, who hunt the air-breathing fish in the lakes of the region.

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The increasing demand for pirarucu has led to its inclusion on the menus of gastronomic and fusion restaurants in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, and Lima.

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The pirarucu's skin is highly prized, in addition to its flesh, and is used to produce exotic leather products such as shoes, bags, and wallets.

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The pirarucu, scientifically known as Arapaima gigas, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world and is an omnivorous species.

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