Tor douronensis

Description

Tor douronensis, also known as Labeobarbus douronensis, is a species of ray-finned fish of the family Cyprinidae in the genus Tor. This Asian fresh water river carp can be discovered in southern Thailand, east to Vietnam and south to Indonesia. The species is known from the Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers. In Indonesia this fish is locally known as kancra bodas or ikan dewa (god's fish). It is rarelyfound in rivers and ponds in Indonesia, especially in Java, Sumatera and Borneo. Because of its rarity, the Sundanese people consider it as a sacred fish. It can be found in rivers and ponds around Mount Cereme, West Java, such as Cibulan, Cigugur, Pasawahan, Linggajati, dan Darmaloka sacred ponds. Because of its rarity in Indonesia, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences considering to propose to CITES to give it the status as protected endangered species. In Thailand, this fish is known as pla pluang chomphu or pla vien chomphu (Thai: ปลาพลวงชมพู, ปลาเวียนชมพู; lit: pink mahseer, pink brook carp) by the colour of the scales and fins are light red or pink. In 1981, this species was in an endangered status. Due to the habitat was destroyed from the Bang Lang Dam, the new dam was built. Subsequently, specimens were collected from nature for breeding. Which was successful, but it also yields less. In the year of 1999, Queen Sirikit proceeded to the Bang Lang Dam and released the fish back to nature. Later, she had the initiative to find fish to farm on the Royal Project. It can be grown in large quantities nowadays by Yala Inland Fisheries Station under Department of Fisheries. Presently, this fish has a very expensive price. They sell at 2,000 baht (about 60 USD) per kg. and in Hong Kong at 8,000 baht per kg. (242 USD).