Marine giant in distress

Police officer saves the life of giant moonfish

(Bild: Screenshot/kameraOne)

Extraordinary rescue mission for police officers in Volusia County in the US state of Florida: a giant moonfish was stuck on the shore and one of the officers got creative.

The officers discovered the imposing animal with its characteristic flat body shape and large eyes. In a published bodycam video, a police officer can be seen trying to gently move the animal. "It's more slimy than you think", he commented on the encounter. After several attempts to maneuver the animal with a rope, it was finally possible to bring the fish back into the open water.

The largest bony fish in the world
The mola mola is considered the heaviest of all bony fish and can weigh up to 5000 pounds (around 2300 kilograms). According to "National Geographic", large specimens can reach up to four meters in height and three meters in width. They feed mainly on jellyfish and other soft marine organisms and live in tropical and temperate oceans worldwide.

An average moonfish weighs around one ton - so getting them back into deeper waters is no easy task.(Bild: Screenshot/kameraOne)

Endangered species due to fishing and plastic waste
The sunfish is classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Due to its frequent proximity to the water surface, it often gets caught in drift nets, which can injure its skin and impair its breathing. In addition, plastic waste, especially floating plastic bags, pose a major threat as they can be mistaken for prey and swallowed.

Rare encounter in Florida
While sightings of moonfish are more common in regions such as California or Bali, sightings on the Florida coast are rarer. However, divers occasionally report encounters with these impressive sea creatures.