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