Mekong Giant Catfish, the world’s largest scaleless freshwater fish, was caught by Pak Mun villagers on January 4, 2002 at Khoom Bok fishing area upstream of the Pak Mun dam between Tha Chang and Nong Phoe villages, Phiboon Mansaharn Distrcit, Ubon  Ratchathani. This is the first time that wild Mekong Giant Catfish was caught in the Mun River since the Pak Mun dam was built ten years ago. There have been some
Mekong Giant Catfish caught in the river but all of them were scientific fertilizing fish, which is smaller than wild fish. It is assumed that this king of fish migrated to the Mun River during opening the Pak Mun dam’s gates last year. Mekong Giant Catfish is endangered species found only in the Mekong River and its tributaries. It is also
listed in the Red Lists of IUCN. In breeding season, this migratory fish travel upstream of the Mekong River and its tributaries to spawn before traveling back to their home in Ton Le Sap in Cambodia and wetlands in the lower Mekong. Pak Mun villagers reported that wild Mekong Giant Catfish had been caught in the Mun River before the construction of Pak Mun dam. It is an important evidence to show that the Mun River is very important ecosystem for migratory fish in the Mekong River basin. Opening Pak Mun dam’s gates permanently will be opening opportunity to protect the king of fish from extinction.