Thai researchers to cure blind walking cave fish

[Hans Mann]

A blind fish is administered local anaesthesia just before cataract surgery.

The world is still reeling from the recent discovery of a blind walking cave fish in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi. The fish, dubbed Cryptotora Thamicola, is extremely rare as it can walk like a four-legged creature. Its movements are similar to early landwalkers’ walk. The fish is the only one of its kind that can climb a waterfall, like salamanders. The walking cavefish uses its tetrapod-like body to walk with a unique gait. Its features are same as tetrapods, researchers said in a study published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

Now a group of medical researchers and philanthropists, led by Dr. Juwanna Poonmailek, 69, has embarked on curing the dreadful affliction of these disabled fish – blindness. Spending several days observing the fish in their natural habitat and bringing specimens back to their laboratory in Bangkok, these scientists have zeroed in on the actual cause of their disability.

“Thai water is different. The water in our lakes, streams and rivers is very sweet, like nectar”, says Dr. Juwanna. “As walking fish live in caves and spend most of their time trying to climb waterfalls, they have limited access to fresh air or other exercises, like swimming. Drinking nectar like water combined with this lethargic lifestyle causes diabetes, which speeds up cataract formation in their eyes.”

Dr. Juwanna and her team have considered several alternatives to improve the living conditions of these fish. “As a Buddhist society, we cannot let any living being suffer like this.”

Thanks to a crowd-funding program and the generosity of fellow Thais, her team has managed to raise almost Baht 100 million (approx. USD 10) in just 7 days. “We couldn't adjust sugar content in our natural habitat, so we are going to use these funds to perform cataract surgeries on all the fish."

Some sixty million are known to exist.

A leading eye hospital in Bangkok has kindly agreed to conduct the cataract operations at a discounted rate using laser technology. “This is an excellent example of the kindness of Thai people, ingenuity of our researchers, and the social responsibility values of our medical industry”, says Dr. Juwanna.

Local villager Donoh Wat-iam Do-Eng 36, who makes up to Baht 50 a day and forages for food in the area, is happy with this initiative. “It’s good for the fish, they can stop walking in these caves and explore our rivers to see the world. A fish can do much more if it can swim. Right now they can't even get jobs in foot spas. People may keep them as pets, if they're not handicapped”, he says. “These caves can be preserved as a natural wonder, or even converted to a 5-star holiday resort. The kindness of our people and the ingenuity of our medical researchers will be famous worldwide.”

Thailand's Blind Walking Fish To Be Cured

[AntRobertson]

Isn't this a day early?

[nidhogg]

^ Definitely.

[BaitongBoy]

How much is the procedure and is it covered by the TV "Group?"...

[DJ Pat]

New tourist attraction maybe?

[BaitongBoy]

^ Does the whole set get expelled from a vagina?...

[Bobcock]

I gotta say, this quote made me chuckle......

“It’s good for the fish, they can stop walking in these caves and explore our rivers to see the world. A fish can do much more if it can swim. Right now they can't even get jobs in foot spas. People may keep them as pets, if they're not handicapped”

[Maanaam]

Isn't this a day early?

Definitely released 12 hours too soon.
On SOOOOO many points of ridiculousness.

[wasabi]

Crossing continents " the BBC radio 4 program aired today a program on Thailands rich monks.

[DJ Pat]

Monkfish?

[fishlocker]

A cure at last. Their is hope for the fish after all.

I could have told them it was the nectar if only they would have asked.

The fish.

[Hans Mann]

Netizens took to social media this week expressing support and concern over a widely publicised campaign to cure blind walking fish found in the caves of western Thailand.

On the hugely popular site, pantrip.com, some users wrote critical comments slamming the initiative as a waste of resources.

Twitter user @TurdSak posted photos of a blind fish recovering from cataract surgery at a luxurious hospital. "Leave the fish alone. People in wheelchairs have same same but bigger problem accessing our mass-transit system - who can help them."

Using a wheelchair on Bangkok mass-transit systems has sometimes been compared to climbing waterfalls. However, netizens in the past have posted that it was "good exercise" and "successfully reaching upper or lower levels on wheelchairs, just to take the train, creates a positive feeling of accomplishment."

Another user @CumFogGirl wants to know why state funds shouldn't be used for plastic surgery to make every cat look like Doraemon. "Our government should get it's priorities in order. Doraemon is our hero for generations."

While some expressed shock, others saw humour. User @GormLek wanted to know if he still needs to use a shopping trolley at the seafood market restaurant. "Cured fish could easily find their own way to the cashier and kitchen", he posted.

Another user, @BeeTheSexChange, asked what should be done with 60 million red and white canes that were just ordered from China in a widely publicised G2G deal.

Meanwhile on Facebook, netizens largely saw the positive side of things. User AttnOar inquired whether uploading pictures of cured pet walking fish would start a new trend of posting "selfish". As her comment went "public", it drew mixed responses getting likes from 1,346,852 friends most of whom have adopted the first batch of cured fish as pets.

Some were concerned for their pets welfare, however, with user Think2Mud posting this caution.... "Dear friends, be careful using flash photography for selfies with your fish. I think my fish has gone blind again."

Netizens frenzy over blind fish cure

[wasabi]

Remember on the back page of American comics in the 70's there was always an ad for space monkeys, living in a fish tank.
Did anybody buy them as pets.?

[toddaniels]

Remember on the back page of American comics in the 70's there was always an ad for space monkeys, living in a fish tank.
Did anybody buy them as pets.?

Do you mean Sea Monkeys?

[nidhogg]

[DJ Pat]

^ My wife modelled for that

[barrylad66]

^