A FEARSOME mutant fish has started killing people after feeding on human corpses, scientists fear.
They reckon that a huge type of catfish, called a goonch, may have developed a taste for flesh in an Indian river where bodies are dumped after funerals.

Locals have believed for years that a mysterious monster lurks in the water. But they think it has moved on from scavenging to snatching unwary bathers who venture into the Great Kali, which flows along the India-Nepal border.

The extraordinary creature has been investigated by biologist Jeremy Wade for a TV documentary to be shown on Five.

He said: “The locals have told me of a theory that this monster has grown extra large on a diet of partially burnt corpses. It has perhaps got this taste for flesh by feasting on remains of funeral pyres. There will be a few freak individuals that grow bigger than the other ones and if you throw in extra food, they will grow even bigger.”

Jeremy discounted theories that crocodiles could be responsible for the carnage before turning his attention to goonches – among the world’s biggest freshwater fish.


He caught one which tipped the scales at 161lb and was nearly 6ft long – a world record weight and far bigger than any landed before.

He said: “If that got hold of you, there’d be no getting away.



An 18-year-old Nepali disappeared in the river last year, dragged down by something described as like an “elongated pig”.

But the first victim of a goonch attack was thought to have been a 17-year-old Nepalese boy.

He was killed in April 1988 as he cooled himself in the river.

Witnesses said he was suddenly pulled below the surface.

Three months later a young boy was dragged underwater as his father watched helplessly.

Five’s Nature Shock series starts on October 14 and Flesh Eating River Monster is on October 21 at 8pm.



Wonder if fishing hooks will be made for humans to be used by fish now? lol

And I thought Piranhas were bad.
Think what it would be like if they added those in too.

That is freaky...

A freshwater fish that eats people? Dear lord... i thought freshwater fish were of the peaceful variety...

cricket.....an interesting read.....I will look forward to that series for sure.

That is very interesting ... interesting and sad.

Another place not to go skinny Dipping.I use to in a local river with freinds when younger..until my mate caught a three foot Pike,that looked like it came from hell.he put it back.

something like this:


This post has been edited by CaptainScarlet: Oct 12 2008, 05:47 AM

Found this pic of a Goonch catfish. No doubt that kitty could grab a hold of ya! 161lb and nearly 6ft long Yikes!!!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/...icle1784470.ece

Buuut… The Mekong Giant Catfish, which is a member of the shark catfish family, allegedly grows up to 9 feet and can weigh in at 600+ pounds.

Wouldn’t want to go swimming with that one either! ~rore

rore....those Mekong cat fish are huge.....I'm been wondering if the bull shark may have something to do with these attack....it can survive in fresh water.