THE 9 DRAGON RIVER
At least 60 million people in Asia depend on it and only the Amazon boasts of a greater biodiversity. The majestic Mekong River is certainly the “Mother of all Rivers”, as the Thais and Laotians call it. At over 4,300km, the Mekong is the seventh longest in Asia and the tenth largest in the world. It starts high above the Tibetan Plateau and runs through six countries before entering its delta in South Vietnam – the “nine tails of the dragon” – and flowing out to the South China Sea. One of the world’s major rivers, the Mekong discharges 475km3 of water annually. That’s the equivalent of 190 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
THE MOTHER OF ALL RIVERS: THE EXPERIENCE
Take a leisurely walk down The Mekong @ River Safari. A replica of a floating Mekong village depicts the leisurely lifestyle of a typical Southeast Asian village. Surrounded by lush vegetation, the village is also home to native animals such as the Long-tailed Macaque.
Venture forth into the main hut, which extends into the water where dried palm leaves line the roof, keeping things cool even in the heat of the day. While you admire the calm waters of The Mekong, see if you can spot the Mekong Giant Catfish and Giant Stingray!
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Featured Residents
MEKONG GIANT CATFISH
The largest freshwater fish in the world, the Mekong Giant Catfish can only be found in the Mekong River. Considered a species in the shark catfish family, the Giant Catfish is grey to white in colour and has no teeth. Unlike other catfish, the Giant Catfish has no barbels, the “whiskers” normally found on both sides of the cheeks. Now a critically endangered species, this monster travels vast distances just to spawn. An estimated 90% of the total population has been wiped out in just the last decade alone, with some experts believing that there may only be a few hundred left alive.
Long-tailed Macaque
The Long-tailed Macaque is commonly found throughout Southeast Asia. Sporting light brown to greyish-brown fur, a pinkish-brown face and a long tail (hence its name), this intelligent monkey quickly learns to raid gardens, kitchens and beg for food from people when living near urban settlements. In the wild, the Long-tailed Macaque dines on a variety of fruits, insects, eggs, leaves and even clay and bark. Known to be excellent swimmers, these monkeys will escape and swim to safety if near a water source and even forge for crabs and other aquatic life for food.
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