Endangered Fish A Saw Point For Zeb

May 24, 2009

Release from: Nadja Hainke
Northern Territory News (Australia)

A TERRITORY inhabitant perilously close to extinction will be thestar in an upcoming wildlife documentary.

The National Geographic was in Darwin this month to film close-up shots of the giant freshwater sawfish at the Territory Wildlife Park.

American biologist Zeb Hogan, who is heading the film project, said the Territory stay was a "wonderful" experience. "We were able to get up close with the sawfish," he said.

"It was pretty cool to be able to get in the tank and help feeding them."

The filming was part of a multi-serial documentary about the world's largest freshwater fish - dubbed the Megafishes Project.

Dr Hogan said northern Australia recorded the only healthy number of giant freshwater sawfish in the world. He said they could grow up to 7m long.

"I find it fascinating," he said. "It's the largest freshwater fish in Australia and it's close to extinction.

"It spends its early years in freshwater and then later they move out into the ocean. You never get the big ones in the rivers."

Dr Hogan and his team of cameramen and producers have spent the past few years travelling the continents in the first worldwide attempt to document and preserve the endangered giant freshwater fish.

He said National Geographic may return to the Territory in six months. But he said the reason for the next visit was "top secret".

"The thing that struck me about being up here is how wild it is and how well preserved it is," he said.

"As a biologist I really appreciate this."