PHNOM PENH: It’s official! Cambodia has entered the Guinness Book of World Records again, this time with the heaviest freshwater fish ever caught. Biologists from the Wonders of the Mekong team tagged giant stingray and have been observing its movements to learn more about how the massive fish survives, despite dwindling numbers of freshwater species plagued by polluted waters and an increase in dams.

The stingray, named Boramy (Khmer for “full moon”) weighed 300 kilograms, or about 661 pounds, when she was caught last June. She was then equipped with an acoustic tracker to help conservationists better understand her living habits and the results have provided keen insights that could help save the species.

“Since the female stingray’s release, we have gathered invaluable information on this magnificent ray through our acoustic tagging system, which will help us protect this endangered species,” said Wonders of the Mekong in a statement on Thursday.

The information provided by the tracker showed that the stingray’s territory is surprisingly small for a fish of such size, encompassing just a few miles in a stretch of river known for its deep pools, its high species count and its population of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. Unlike with the near-extinct river dolphin, which migrates long distances, the finding shows that the giant stingray population could be protected by focusing on key sections of the river.

Nearly a third of freshwater fish worldwide are threatened with extinction, with 94% of large species declining since 1970. The Mekong in particular is increasingly threatened by dams, harmful fishing practices, sand extraction, pollution and climate change.

The area is being considered for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which would protect its endangered residents from extinction, but several major hydropower projects, which would require huge dams, have also been proposed.

Prime Minister Hun Manet posted on his social media, congratulating the country on its new world record.