Piranha fish worth AED2,000 have been seized by Dubai Municipality chiefs in a crackdown on pet shops in the emirate.
The Veterinary Services Section of Public Health Services Department in Dubai Municipality launched an inspection campaign on stores that sell tropical fish and pet birds to ensure that they are free of the piranhas, the small flesh-eating fish made famous by several Hollywood movies.
“This kind of fish is hazardous to the public health due to its ferocity and voracious appetite for meat, and this campaign comes from the Municipality’s keenness to achieve its mission towards the community by maintaining the Dubai Emirate’s public health and to provide a healthy environment,” Dr Essam Sharaf, head of Veterinary Services Section said.
He added that during the campaign, the Municipality confiscated piranha fish to the value of AED2000, and those offending shops were giving warnings.
The original home of this fish is located within the rivers and lakes of South America, and the word piranha means (voracious) in the local language.
The Red Belly Piranha is the most and dangerous popular Piranha, Sharaf added.
Piranhas have a bulldog-like face with a very large lower jaw and many razor-sharp teeth.
Sharaf warned that this kind of fish was very dangerous and it should not be sold in any shop as tropical fish.
He called the public to report the presence of piranha by calling the Municipality’s toll-free number 800900.
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