WHAT happens when a fish native to South America ends up swimming in the waters of Pahang?
That is the question being raised after a second specimen believed to be a red-bellied piranha was reportedly found at Empangan Klau, Raub.
A social media post claimed the latest discovery was the second red-bellied piranha found at the reservoir, prompting questions over how the exotic fish got there in the first place.
The post suggested that someone may have kept the fish as a pet before releasing it, while urging owners of exotic fish not to release unwanted pets into local waterways.
Spesimen kedua Pirana Perut Merah dijumpai di Empangan Klau, Raub Pahang. Bagaimana boleh ada? Mesti ada orang bela, lepas tu lepaskan. Kalau kita bela ikan eksotik, bila tak mampu bela jangan lepaskan. Bunuh dan tanam sendiri. pic.twitter.com/d5ZzbDb3Lr
— Fitri Yusof (@drfitriyusof) September 19, 2026
But here comes the golden question. Why do people want to rear such predators in the first place?
Netizen @haikal_sufyan pointed out that this was the same with foreign footballers who were imported to enrich the national team.
Another netizen suggested the authorities investigate the pet shops.
Then there was @deill2005 who suggested a win-win situation for everyone:
Also, @abdulra09865314 pointed out that this was a subtle way to destroy the nation’s food source.
However, netizen @LeozellL managed to find the bright side of things.
Note that the first suspected piranha was caught by a local resident using a net on Aug 26.
According to the Department of Fisheries, other fish caught at the same time included lampam sungai, lampam Jawa, zebra tilapia and peacock bass. The suspected piranha died after being brought ashore.
Importantly, there have been no further reported catches of a similar fish since that first incident, and authorities have said there is currently no evidence of an established piranha population at Empangan Klau.
Red-bellied piranhas are freshwater predators that feed on fish and other aquatic organisms.
If an introduced population becomes established, it could compete with native species for food, disrupt food chains and put additional pressure on already vulnerable populations.—Sept 21, 2026
Main image: @drfitriyusof (X)
