Cologne excited: mysterious giant whisper discovered on the Rhine!

Cologne excited: mysterious giant whisper discovered on the Rhine!

An unusual find is currently causing excitement in the Cologne region. The reader reporter Juliane Baumbacher discovered a dead catfish during a walk on the Rhine that drove in the water at Westhoven's Aue. This event not only raises questions about the water quality, but is also a sign of the increasing Wels views in Cologne, such as Express.de reports.

The riverwels, Scientifically Known as Silurus Glanis, is the largest pure freshwater fish in Europe. It can be up to three meters long and impressive 100 kilograms. In recent years, too, there have always been reports about catfish that were caught in Germany, including a copy of a remarkable 2.81 meters, which became a matter in November 2024. The catfish is known for its preference for large rivers and lakes with a muddy background, which makes it the ideal inhabitant of the Rhine.

robber on the advance

In the past few decades, the river cat's population has increased significantly. According to nationalgeographic.de, these predatory fish in warmer water feel particularly comfortable. This is a direct result of human activities that increase the water temperature in rivers and lakes. The climate crisis thus plays a decisive role in the spread of this type of fish that has spread beyond its original habitats.

catfish can achieve an astonishing age of up to 70 years and grow for a lifetime. In the Rhine system to the Elbe in the north and to the Danube in the south, they have spread, which makes them an increasing sight in German waters. Climate change and the introduction of cooling water from industrial processes favor this development, so that younger catfish can also achieve considerable variables.

ecological challenges

The increase in the WELS population not only affects the fish stocks themselves, but also raises question marks regarding the existing ecosystems. Germany's waters are home to a total of 113 fresh water fish species, which are threatened by the spread of non-domestic species, as explained on Germanys-natur.de. Interference such as the exposure of non -location home fish can displace the domestic species.

The water quality and the structures of the water are crucial for survival and reproduction of the different fish species. Artificial barriers that have arisen when the construction of reservoirs or weirs also affect the hikes of many fish. It is therefore important to protect both natural habitats and the fish species to preserve biodiversity in our waters.

It remains to be seen how the situation around the catfish will develop in the coming years. In any case, the sightings in Cologne are only the tip of the iceberg in a very lively but also critical discussion about the future of our rivers and their inhabitants.