TEMOLEH FISH CONSERVATIONS PROGRAMME AT TAMAN NEGARA
Temoleh, Temelian or Probarbus jullieni, is the biggest of the Malaysian wild river carps. There's only two "Freshwater Fish of Malaysia" declared and rated as Critically Endangered; the Arowana and these great giant Temoleh. Meaning that it is present in limited localities but the factors for their survival are not favourable! Its beauty and elegance of these striped giants are admirable amongst the anglers.In Thailand, it is known as Pla Eesok, and considered a very highly esteemed fish.
This elusive sportfish, which is the only worthy Malaysian contender of the mighty Indian Mahseer in terms of size and strength. It is only found in Sungai Pahang and Sungai Perak, the two biggest river system (including their tributaries) in the peninsular Malaysia. It is absent in Borneo. The Temoleh's fish also can be found in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins of Indo-China and Thailand.
How "giant' is this fish
Temoleh fish is very large, weighing up to 25 kg and measuring up to 150cm long. However, it was reported that a 33kg giant was caught in Kuala Tahan, Taman Negara in early 90s by 3 local ladies after a protracted battle from 6pm to 11pm. The local people of Taman Negara also believe that the 50kg of giant Temoleh are still exist beneath Sungai Tembeling until today!
Its body is brown to red in color with dark brown stripes. The fins and tail are orange, and it has a rounded snout with small lips. Carps are freshwater fish and are distantly related to the common goldfish.
The Temoleh fish is a migratory species and mainly occupies large rivers or lakes with moving water, with sand or gravel substrates and where there is an abundance of mollusks. These fish feed on aquatic plants, insects, and shelled mollusks. They migrate upstream in October, and spawning occurs in the winter in late December through early February in big riverine deltas where the current is strong enough.
Is There A Future For Our Temoleh?
The Julliens golden carp is threatened by over fishing and human capture of eggs that have a very high market price. The species is legally protected in Laos where it is forbidden to catch, trade, or transport the species. In Malaysia, the protection is still in grey area. A lot of actions to be done by local authorities and publics before this species extinct
Why Tembeling River
* Temoleh can be found only in Sungai Pahang and Sungai Perak. Sungai Tembeling is on of the Sungai Pahang main tributaries. Compare to other parts of the Pahang River or Perak River, the populations or settlement along Tembeling River is less thus result minimal pollutions to the river.
* This river is located in Tourism Zone. The river itself is the border for the most popular National Park in Malaysia. Daily, hundreds of tourist using this river to access to this park. This conservations will give a good impact as a new product for tourism industry and also will benefit the locals.
* The study and researched made by Fishery Department through Fishery Research Institute recorded that the size of temoleh in Tembeling River is much bigger compare to other parts of Pahang and Perak River.
Unique Phenomenon In Tembeling River
* Every year from October to February (normally after the flood season), hundreds of giant temoleh will swim upstream the Tembeling River through the rapids and fast moving water for breeding and spawning. The spawning zone will start from Kuala Tembelings area up to Kg Bantal.
* The spawning phenomenon will happened on at shallow water thus make them easy to caught by uneducated people. Normally they will choose their own territories for spawning process. Sometimes a big fight will happen between the temoleh, the weaker will left and the stronger will stay. The spawning process will occur when the giant temoleh slam their body with each others or their partner. This is to to release the eggs from their body. During the slam and fighting process, the sound can be heard clearly from far and can be seen by near. After the fight the temoleh will become very weak and make so easy to catch by the locals.
Myths and Scientifics
* The process of temoleh spawning was already happened hundred of years ago and continue until today. Local believed that this is related to one fetish rock in Kuala Pengau, Kg Pagi which called in locals " Batu berhala Temoleh". This rock cannot be seen nowadays because it's burry by the sand during flood season.. The myth tells that, it is a must for the temoleh to visit this fetish rock before they breed or spawning. The old local folks said that during the season, thousands of temoleh can be seen in this area. The temoleh will round the "Batu Berhala Temoleh" for seven rounds then only they can proceed for breeding. However, during old days this process will monitored and observed by the Shaman or " Tok Pawang". During the season the Shaman will do a spiritual ceremony to the river and the temoleh. The villagers are prohibited to catch any single of temoleh until the ceremony is over. Normally the ceremony will takes up to a few weeks. If the Shaman instruction is breach, the local believe that a big disaster will attack the village.
* By scientific; the spirituals ceremony by the Tok Pawang is a process of conservations. The do's and don't during the ceremony is to avoid the local from disturb the spawning process. The enough time frame decide by the Shaman will allow the temoleh to complete the spawning and breeding process thus the number of the survival temoleh will secure.
[YT]ODOvf71adEk[/YT]
Any member keeping this fish care to give feedback?
I m thinking to get a temoleh to add on to my collection.
Thanks for reading.
