Isimeli’s back from Amazon
Suddenly there was blood and a threshing as the piranha attacked. Within 30 minutes it was reduced to a skeleton. “And when the head of an animal was thrown into the water it took only five minutes..
RETURNING from a trip through the Amazon jungles, a local man brought home an interesting souvenir a little over forty years ago.
According to The Fiji Times dated Monday, February 25, 1980, a Fiji man returned from the Amazon jungle of South America with a specimen of the deadly piranha fish.
The man, Isimeli Walebula, was among Fiji crew members aboard a US Navy research ship which went up a part of the Amazon.
While the article did not identify the specific species, the fish appears to be a smaller specimen of a red bellied piranha as these were often taxidermised to be sold as such souvenirs.
“The small piranha, with needle-sharp teeth, is a voracious predator swarming to attack animals, or humans, venturing into the river,” the article read.
Mr Walebula said while they were on the Amazon they saw a bull being led into the waters.
“Suddenly there was blood and a threshing as the piranha attacked. Within 30 minutes it was reduced to a skeleton.
“And when the head of an animal was thrown into the water it took only five minutes for this terrible little fish to eat all the flesh and eyes.”
Piranhas are known to attack in swarms when presented with a large prey, owing to their own small size.
Depending on the species, piranhas are typically between 12 and 35 centimetres (5–14 inches).
However, cases of piranhas attacking larger mammals are uncommon, with most omnivorous piranhas living off insects, crustaceans, worms, small fish, and plants.
They are also known to feed on smaller land animals that wonder into the water, in which case they would attack in large groups to overwhelm the animal.
Marvelling at the small size of the ferocious fish, Mr Walebula said, “but when you see them busy at a good meal you really feel terrified.”