{
  "id": 16458885,
  "title": "No piranha found or caught in Klau dam in Raub - Fisheries dept",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/no-piranha-found-or-caught-in-klau-dam-in-raub-fisheries-dept",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T10:15:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1563265/no-piranha-found-or-caught-klau-dam-raub-fisheries-dept"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kuantan fisheries officials reported no piranha fish were discovered or caught during the two-day Alien Fish Mitigation Programme at the Klau Dam in Raub. Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain clarified that this lack of evidence should not be taken as confirmation that piranhas are no longer present in the dam, as previously reported. The mitigation program aimed to control alien fish populations, protect native species, and raise public awareness about the dangers of alien species to aquatic biodiversity. Throughout the initiative, which involved 150 participants, 156.6kg of alien fish were captured, primarily comprising Peacock Bass, Zebra Tilapia, and Javanese Carp. Monitoring using environmental DNA (eDNA) technique and further scientific assessment will continue to determine the presence of piranhas in the dam, with final results pending analysis and evaluation.",
  "summary": "KUANTAN: No piranha fish were found or caught during the Alien Fish Mitigation Programme at the Klau Dam, Raub, which took place over two days starting yesterday, said Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain.",
  "key_points": [
    "No piranha found or caught at Klau Dam during Alien Fish Mitigation Programme",
    "Director-General Adnan Hussain clarifies absence of evidence doesn't confirm piranhas gone",
    "Mitigation program aimed to control alien fish populations and raise public awareness"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The failure to capture piranhas during the mitigation program shifts the focus toward scientific eDNA testing to confirm whether these invasive predators still threaten the local aquatic biodiversity.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : No Piranha Found Or Caught At Klau Dam In Raub - DOF",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/general-no-piranha-found-or-caught-at-klau-dam-in-raub-dof",
        "published": "2026-10-25T08:15:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "No piranha found or caught at Klau Dam, but presence not ruled out, says Fisheries Dept",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/no-piranha-found-or-caught-at-klau-dam-but-presence-not-ruled-out",
        "published": "2026-10-25T10:44:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}