Man reunites with giant catfish he donated to Argentine biopark

A man from Santa Fe, Argentina, was reunited with the giant red-tailed catfish he raised from a juvenile and donated to the Temaikén Biopark in Buenos Aires province after it outgrew his home aquarium. The emotional encounter, which took place on August 11, was captured on video and has moved viewers across the country.

The reunion

Julio, the original owner, traveled to the biopark in Escobar with Gladys and his son Joel. When they approached the aquarium, the fish—known as "Gordo"—swam directly to their viewing spot and stayed there. "He came right to where we are. It seems incredible, but he doesn't leave the glass. I have no words," Julio said Source: lavozar. He described the fish's new environment as a "5-star hotel" compared to his old tank Source: lavozar.

The donation and adaptation

Julio had raised Gordo since it was small, feeding it by hand with mojarras and cornalitos. When the fish grew too large, he contacted the Temaikén Foundation, which evaluated the case and arranged the transport Source: infobae. After a nine-hour journey, Gordo underwent a two-month quarantine. Initially stressed and refusing food, he began eating after another fish of the same species was introduced Source: lavozar.

Current status

Gordo, now two years old and weighing seven kilograms, lives in the biopark's river aquarium with other Argentine river species Source: lavozar. Julieta Jañez, the aquarium's technical director, noted that the institution worked with full responsibility, and the fish's story has had a "beautiful impact" Source: lavozar. The biopark's team used videos from the family to understand Gordo's feeding habits, which helped in his care Source: infobae.