All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S07E02.Mekong.Mutilator.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

Wade:
I'M JEREMY WADE, EXTREME ANGLER
AND FRESHWATER DETECTIVE.

FISH ON!

FOR YEARS, I'VE BEEN
TRACKING DOWN CREATURES

THAT ARE NORMALLY HIDDEN.

LARGE OR SMALL,

IT'S THEIR ABILITY TO INFLICT
LETHAL DAMAGE THAT INTERESTS ME.

AND NOW, FROM THE HEART
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA,

COME REPORTS
OF AN UNSEEN MUTILATOR

THAT'S LEAVING A TRAIL
OF DISFIGURED VICTIMS.

BUT WHAT ANIMAL COULD POSSIBLY
BE BEHIND THESE ATTACKS?

HE JUST BLED UNTIL HE DIED.

TO FIND OUT,
I'M HEADING TO A PLACE

THAT SUFFERED
UNIMAGINABLE HORROR...

AND TO A RIVER THAT HARBORS

MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE
OF MONSTERS.

[ GRUNTS ]

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT FLOWS LIKE THE AMAZON
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA --

A HUGE RIVER WHOSE WATERS
ARE STILL YIELDING ANIMALS

NEW TO SCIENCE.

RISING ON THE TIBETAN PLATEAU,

THE MEKONG RIVER SLICES
DOWN THROUGH INDOCHINA

AND INTO A COUNTRY
THAT, FOR MANY YEARS,

WAS OFF LIMITS TO OUTSIDERS.

CAMBODIA WAS ONCE AT THE HEART
OF A POWERFUL MEDIEVAL EMPIRE --

AN EMPIRE WHOSE OVERGROWN RUINS
ARE COVERED WITH IMAGES OF

FRESHWATER GIANTS.

THESE CARVINGS
AT THE CENTURIES OLD TEMPLE

AT ANGKOR SHOW FISH SO BIG,
THEY CAN SWALLOW DEER HOLE,

AND SO PLENTIFUL THAT

BOATS CAN'T AVOID
BUMPING INTO THEM.

AND IT'S
FROM THESE MONSTER-FILLED WATERS

THAT I'VE HEARD REPORTS

OF A CREATURE
THAT'S MUTILATING BOTH BATHERS

AND FISHERMEN.

[ SCREAMS ]

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES,

BUT ONE STORY
IS PARTICULARLY GRUESOME.

A TEENAGE BOY
WAS CHECKING HIS FISHING NET

WHEN HE FELT A SUDDEN PAIN
IN HIS GROIN.

BLOOD STARTED GUSHING FROM
THE WOUND, AND WHEN

HE GOT OUT OF THE WATER,
HE DISCOVERED THAT HE

WAS MISSING PART OF HIS
GENITALS.

HE'D BEEN SLICED
AS IF BY SOME KIND OF BLADE.

THE CULPRIT, UNSEEN.

THE DETAILS ARE VAGUE,

BUT I'VE COME ACROSS INCIDENTS
LIKE THIS BEFORE.

IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA,

THE NORMALLY VEGETARIAN
PACU INTRODUCED FROM THE AMAZON

BECAME KNOWN AS THE BALL CUTTER

WHEN IT APPEARED
TO HAVE DEVELOPED AN APPETITE

FOR HUMAN TESTICLES.

AND I CAN'T RULE OUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING LARGER.

IN ARGENTINA, THE GOLDEN DORADO

WAS GUILTY OF A SIMILARLY
GRUESOME ATTACK ON A YOUNG BOY.

BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW,
NEITHER OF THESE FISH

NOR ANYTHING
LIKE THEM IS FOUND IN CAMBODIA.

SO I'M NOT SURE
QUITE WHAT I'LL FIND.

MY INVESTIGATION BEGINS IN
CAMBODIA'S CAPITAL, PHNOM PENH.

I'VE ARRIVED JUST
AFTER THE CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR.

39 YEARS AGO, NEW YEAR
WAS MARKED BY THE ARRIVAL

HERE IN THE CITY
OF THE KHMER ROUGE.

IT WAS THE START OF ONE
OF THE BLOODIEST MASS MURDERS

IN RECENT HISTORY.

OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS,

WELL OVER
A MILLION PEOPLE DIED --

AROUND A QUARTER
OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION.

WHEREVER I LOOK,

THERE ARE GRIM REMINDERS
OF THAT BRUTAL PERIOD.

I'M SEEING PEOPLE HERE AND THERE
WITH MISSING LIMBS.

NOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY
THE VICTIMS OF LAND MINES.

DURING ITS TIME IN POWER,

THE KHMER ROUGE BURIED UNTOLD
NUMBERS OF THESE EXPLOSIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THEM
ARE STILL IN THE GROUND,

ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREAS
WHERE I EXPECT TO BE GOING.

THIS IS
PHNOM PENH'S OLDEST MARKET

AND A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR FISH
FROM RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I'M HERE TO SEE
IF I CAN SPOT ANYTHING

THAT'S EQUIPPED
TO SLICE THROUGH HUMAN FLESH.

SO, THIS ONE?

OKAY, RIGHT.

NOW, I JUST ASKED
FOR THE NAME OF THE FISH,

AND SHE JUST TELLS ME
THE PRICE.

I RECOGNIZE THIS ONE.
THIS ONE'S STILL ALIVE.

THIS IS A SNAKEHEAD.

THEY'VE GOT QUITE A BITE
ON THEM,

BUT THOSE TEETH,
THEY DON'T SLICE.

THE ACTION IS MORE LIKE A SAW.

WHEN THE FISH SHAKES ITS HEAD,
THAT WILL CUT THROUGH FLESH.

IT DOESN'T SLICE.

THE INJURIES I'VE HEARD
ABOUT WERE CLEAN AND SURGICAL.

NOT ONE OF THESE
I'M LOOKING FOR.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY THINGS HERE
THAT CAN BITE.

WHAT NAME THIS ONE?

Wade: BUT NOTHING THAT LOOKS
LIKE IT COULD INFLICT A SHARP,

KNIFE-LIKE WOUND.

IS THERE ANY BIG ANIMAL
HERE WITH TEETH?

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

HE SAYS
THERE'S CROCODILES HERE.

NOW, CROCODILES
HAVE IMMENSELY POWERFUL JAWS,

BUT THEIR TEETH RIP
AND TEAR.

THEY DON'T REALLY CUT.

Wade: I LOOK INSTEAD
FOR A LEAD TO ANYONE

WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED.

DO YOU KNOW
ANY STORY OF ANY --

ANY PERSON BEING BITTEN
IN THE WATER HERE?

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

SHE SAYS THE ONLY FISH
THAT SHE KNOWS ABOUT

THAT WILL BITE PEOPLE IS
THE SNAKEHEAD.

THAT'S -- THAT'S ALL
SHE CAN TELL ME.

Wade: THE MARKET HAS PROVIDED
NEITHER SUSPECTS NOR VICTIMS.

YET, IT'S CLEAR
THAT MOST OF THE FISH

HERE COME FROM CAMBODIA'S
MORE REMOTE BACKWATERS.

SO, IF I'M GOING
TO FIND THE CULPRIT,

I NEED TO LEAVE THE CITY
AND HEAD UPRIVER.

THOUGH CAMBODIA IS NEW TO ME, I
HAVE BEEN ON THE MEKONG BEFORE.

FURTHER UPRIVER, I HAD
AN EXPERIENCE I'D RATHER FORGET.

I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT UNEASY
IN THE REMOTER CORNERS

OF THIS PART OF THE WORLD.

IT WAS ON THIS RIVER
WHERE IT FORMS THE BORDER

BETWEEN THAILAND AND LAOS

THAT I WAS ARRESTED
AS A SUSPECTED SPY.

I ACTUALLY HAD TO LEAVE THE
COUNTRY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT HAPPENED IN 1984,

AND IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE
TODAY.

BUT EVEN SO,
I STILL FIND IT VERY HARD

TO GET COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE
IN THIS PLACE.

THESE WATERS ARE
MORE TREACHEROUS THAN THEY LOOK.

WHIRLPOOLS CAN WHIP UP
IN AN INSTANT,

AND ANCHORING IN THE STRONG
CURRENT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

OUR ONLY OPTION IS TO TIE UP

TO ONE OF THE CONCRETE
CHANNEL MARKERS

THAT STICK UP LIKE TOMBSTONES.

IN THIS WATER, ANY PREDATOR
IS LIKELY TO BE LYING DEEP

AND USING THE CURRENT
TO ITS ADVANTAGE.

ALL RIGHT,
THIS ACTUALLY FEELS QUITE GOOD.

THERE'S WATER
RUSHING BY ON EITHER SIDE.

THERE'S A -- THERE'S
A VERY DRAMATIC DROPOFF.

IT GOES FROM ABOUT 12 FOOT
DOWN TO 60.

IT'S A KIND OF PLACE
WHERE FISH WOULD COME IN,

EXPECTING FOOD ITEMS
TO SETTLE IN THE CURRENT.

TO MAKE SURE MY LINE SINKS
IN THESE FAST-FLOWING WATERS,

I NEED TO ATTACH A LOT
OF WEIGHT,

SO I'M IMPROVISING WITH SOME

LUMPS OF SCRAP METAL.

WITH A BIT OF LUCK,

THAT WILL HOLD BOTTOM.

I'M ATTACHING THAT
TO A RELATIVELY THIN BIT OF LINE

SO THAT IF THIS DOES GET CAUGHT
UP ON ANYTHING, WHAT WILL BREAK

WILL BE
THIS AND NOT MY MAIN LINE.

THIS FEELS GOOD.

THE BAIT IS ON THE BOTTOM.

IT'S IN THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE
A PREDATOR MIGHT BE WAITING.

THE WATER'S TOO DEEP
AND TOO MURKY TO SEE ANYTHING,

SO FISHING IS THE ONLY WAY I
CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S DOWN THERE.

I'M TOLD AS WELL AS FISH,

THERE'S UNEXPLODED BOMBS
IN THIS RIVER.

NOBODY QUITE KNOWS HOW MANY,
NOBODY QUITE KNOWS WHERE.

IT WAS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR
THAT THOUSANDS

OF TONS OF EXPLOSIVES
ENDED UP IN THE MEKONG.

AND IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE
THAT LIVE BOMBS

ARE STILL LITTERING THE RIVERBED
BENEATH ME.

THAT'S SOMETHING ON.
THAT'S SOMETHING ON.

WHATEVER'S ATTACHED
TO THE END OF MY LINE,

IT CERTAINLY FEELS HEAVY.

I WONDER IF IT'S A STINGRAY.

I WONDER IF IT'S A STINGRAY.

YEAH, IT'S COMING UP,
WHATEVER IT IS.

WHATEVER'S ON THE END
IS ABOUT TO BREAK THE SURFACE.

Wade: IN CAMBODIA,
I'M ON THE HUNT FOR A CREATURE

THAT'S BEEN MUTILATING BATHERS
AND FISHERMEN, AND I'VE HOOKED

SOMETHING BIG FROM THE BOTTOM
OF THE MEKONG...

IT'S COMING IN.
WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S COMING IN.

...A RIVER THAT'S PEPPERED
WITH UNEXPLODED BOMBS.

WHATEVER'S ON THE END
IS ABOUT TO BREAK THE SURFACE.

IT'S A TREE.
IT'S A TREE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

I HAVE ACTUALLY CAUGHT TREES
BEFORE,

BUT I HAVE TO SAY,
IT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME

I'VE BEEN PLEASED
TO SEE THAT THAT

WAS ALL IT WAS ON THE END
OF THE LINE.

THERE'S UNEXPLODED BOMBS
SCATTERED AROUND.

IF ONE OF THOSE CAME
AND HAPPENED TO GO OFF,

I COULD LOSE AN ARM
OR A LEG OR EVEN WORSE.

I CONTINUE FISHING THE RIVER,

BUT WITH THE SAME
FRUSTRATING RESULT.

THE STRONG CURRENT IS CONSTANTLY
SWEEPING DEBRIS ALONG THE BOTTOM

AND INTO MY LINE.

I HOOK BRANCH AFTER BRANCH,
BUT NOT A SINGLE FISH.

THIS BAIT IS COMPLETELY INTACT.

NOTHING HAS GONE FOR THIS
AT ALL THE WHOLE TIME

IT'S BEEN IN THE WATER.

IT'S UNUSUAL TO FISH FOR SO LONG
WITHOUT GETTING ANYTHING.

WITH THIS STRETCH OF RIVER
SEEMINGLY EMPTY OF FISH,

I NEED TO SWITCH TACTICS.

MAYBE IF I CAN TRACK DOWN
A VICTIM,

I'LL PICK UP A CLUE THAT'LL HELP
ME IDENTIFY THE UNSEEN ATTACKER.

Wade:
DO YOU KNOW ANY CASES

OF ANYBODY BEING ATTACKED
BY SOMETHING IN THE WATER?

NOTHING HERE?
NOTHING HERE?

OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

Wade: THE MEKONG IS
AN AQUATIC HIGHWAY

THAT CONNECTS HUNDREDS
OF RIVERSIDE COMMUNITIES,

AND INFORMATION SPREADS
RAPIDLY UP

AND DOWN ITS BANKS.

IF THERE HAVE BEEN ATTACKS
NEARBY,

THE CHANCES ARE THAT SOMEBODY
WILL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEM.

Wade: HELLO.

Wade: I'VE ASKED RIVER PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD

ABOUT TRAGIC ACCIDENTS,

BUT I FEEL UNEASY
DOING SO HERE...

SIR, COULD I CARRY ON?

Wade:
...WHERE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE
WERE SYSTEMATICALLY MURDERED

BY A CRUEL REGIME.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

EVENTUALLY, A MAN NAMED MR. LUN
TELLS ME ABOUT HIS BROTHER.

HIS BROTHER WAS OUT FISHING WITH
A FRIEND CLOSE TO THEIR VILLAGE

AND MANAGED TO SPEAR A FISH
FROM HIS BOAT.

BUT WHEN HE TRIED
TO RETRIEVE IT,

SOMETHING IN THE WATER
ATTACKED HIM.

[ SCREAMS ]

WHEN HE CAME BACK UP,

HIS FACE WAS STREAMING
WITH BLOOD ON ONE SIDE.

AND WHEN THEY ACTUALLY
GOT HIM BACK INTO THE BOAT

AND CLEARED EVERYTHING UP,

PART OF HIS EAR
HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REMOVED.

I'M STRUCK
BY A PARTICULAR DETAIL,

ONE THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH
THE OTHER STORIES I'VE HEARD.

HIS BROTHER'S BUTCHERED EAR
LOOKED AS THOUGH

IT HAD BEEN SURGICALLY SLICED
WITH A SHARP BLADE.

[ SCREAMS ]

Wade: MR. LUN'S ACCOUNT IS
CONFIRMATION THAT THESE WATERS

ARE HOME TO AN ANIMAL
THAT CUTS THROUGH FLESH,

BUT WHAT IS IT?

THERE IS ONE AVENUE
I HAVEN'T YET EXPLORED.

OFTEN, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
IS ENSHRINED IN FOLKLORE.

PERHAPS THERE ARE CLUES BURIED
IN THE MYTHOLOGY

OF THIS ANCIENT LAND.

BUDDHISM IS CENTRAL
TO CAMBODIAN CULTURE,

AND IT ALSO HAS AN INTIMATE
CONNECTION WITH NATURE.

IF ANYONE HAS SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE
OF THE RIVER'S INHABITANTS,

IT MAY BE THE LOCAL MONKS.

IN THIS RIVERSIDE TEMPLE,
DRAGONS, MULTI-HEADED COBRAS

AND ALL MANNER
OF STRANGE-LOOKING BEASTS

STARE BACK AT ME FROM

EVERY WALL AND PILLAR.

COULD ONE OF THEM, I WONDER,

HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH A REAL
FLESH-AND-BLOOD CREATURE?

WHEN I ASK BROTHER TANGVUTI,

HE DESCRIBES AN ANIMAL
FROM THE RIVER THAT DOES,

INDEED, HAVE A NASTY BITE.

[ BOTH SPEAKING KHMER ]

THE LOCAL NAME
MEANS NOTHING TO ME,

BUT BIZARRELY, I'M TOLD
THAT THEY ACTUALLY KEEP

ONE OF THESE MYSTERIOUS BEASTS
RIGHT NEXT TO THE TEMPLE.

ACCORDING TO TANGVUTI,

THE CREATURE'S BITE
IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CRUSH BONE

OR REMOVE A FINGER,
SO OUR BARE-FOOTED APPROACH

SEEMS NOTHING SHORT OF RECKLESS.

I SAW SOMETHING
UNDER THE -- IT'S HERE.

Wade: IN CAMBODIA, MY SEARCH
FOR A MYSTERIOUS RIVER MONSTER

THAT'S BEEN MUTILATING FISHERMEN

HAS BROUGHT ME
TO A BUDDHIST TEMPLE

DECORATED WITH STRANGE BEASTS.

AND ONE OF THE MONKS
NOW WANTS TO SHOW ME AN ANIMAL

THAT CAN APPARENTLY
CRUSH BONE...

IT'S HERE.

...AND CHOP OFF FINGERS.

I SEE NOTHING AT ALL.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

Wade: WHEN THE MONK REVEALS
THE BEAST,

I RECOGNIZE IT AS SOMETHING
I'VE TANGLED WITH BEFORE.

A MASSIVE, SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE.

HE'S VERY SIMILAR TO ONE
THAT I SAW IN INDIA,

AND THAT ONE NEARLY
TOOK MY HAND OFF.

SO I'M BEING QUITE WARY
WITH THIS.

IT'S GOT
VERY SHARP CLAWS,

Wade: BUT IT'S THE BEAK
I'VE GOT TO WATCH.

IT'S MADE UP
OF RAZOR-EDGED BLADES,

AND A TURTLE'S BITE REALLY
IS STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK BONE.

IT'S ALMOST
LIKE BOLT CUTTERS.

I MEAN,
YOU REALLY WOULDN'T WANT

TO GET ANYWHERE
WITHIN RANGE OF THAT AT ALL.

Wade: THIS CAMBODIAN SPECIES
CAN GROW BIGGER THAN ME,

BUT EVEN A SMALL ONE
COULD INFLICT A CRIPPLING WOUND.

SO, THIS THING --

YOU'D NEVER KNOW
IT WAS THERE.

BE VERY EASY
TO BLUNDER INTO IT.

AND IF YOU CAME WITHIN RANGE
OF THAT MOUTH,

IT COULD DO
SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE.

Wade: HOWEVER, THE VERY REASON
TURTLES ARE KEPT HERE TELLS ME

THAT THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY
BE THE ANIMAL I'M AFTER.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
A BREEDING PROGRAM

AIMED AT SAVING THE SPECIES
FROM EXTINCTION.

THE FACT IS, THESE TURTLES
ARE NOW SIMPLY TOO RARE

TO BE BEHIND THE MULTIPLE
ATTACKS I'VE HEARD ABOUT...

[ SCREAMS ]

Wade: ...WHICH MEANS I'M STILL
LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT.

THIS IS TURNING OUT

TO BE ONE OF MY MOST
PERPLEXING INVESTIGATIONS.

FEW RIVERS HAVE PROVED
SO UNWILLING

TO GIVE UP THEIR SECRETS.

BUT I'M NOT ABOUT TO QUIT.

AND THE MONK'S EFFORTS
TO SAVE THE TURTLES

HAVE GIVEN ME ANOTHER IDEA.

THERE'S A PLACE I KNOW
WHERE I CAN QUICKLY GET A LOOK

AT WHAT ELSE IS LURKING BENEATH
THE MEKONG'S MURKY SURFACE.

IT'S A LAKE
ACROSS THE BORDER WHERE NOT ONE,

BUT MANY OF THE MEKONG'S
MONSTERS ARE PROTECTED.

I WANT TO SEE IF ANY OF THEM
COULD LEAVE THE SIGNATURE WOUNDS

OF THE MYSTERIOUS ATTACKER.

IT'S BARELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE
SOMETHING BITES ONE OF MY BAITS.

SOMETHING'S ON THE FLOAT.

AND FROM THE WAY IT'S TAKEN OFF,

I CAN TELL IT'S BIG.

EVERY TIME IT COMES CLOSE
TO THE SURFACE,

IT TAKES FRIGHT
AND GOES DOWN AGAIN.

THERE IT IS.

THIS IS ONLY A SMALL ONE.

SIAMESE CARP ARE SAID
TO GROW NEARLY TEN FEET LONG

AND REACH OVER 600 POUNDS.

JUST HOPING THE FISH STAYS CALM
FOR A SECOND.

THERE WE GO.

IT'S GOT A VERY UPWARD TURNED
MOUTH, THIS FISH, THOUGH.

NO SURPRISE THAT IT TOOK A BAIT

IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WATER COLUMN.

IT'S GOT PLENTY OF WEIGHT
TO THROW AROUND,

YET ITS RUBBERY MOUTH
IS COMPLETELY TOOTHLESS.

SO NO WAY THAT THIS COULD SLICE
THROUGH ANYTHING OR ANYBODY.

JUST A REALLY --

[ CHUCKLES ]

WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY
IS "A REALLY PRETTY FISH."

THIS VEGETARIAN
LACKS THE HARDWARE

TO MAKE IT ONTO MY SUSPECT LIST.

I'M UPPING MY GAME.

MAYBE A SHOWERING
OF MEATY SMELLING FISH PELLETS

WILL TEMPT A FLESH EATER
ONTO MY LINE.

IT'S ANOTHER BITE,

AND THIS BEAST FEELS MUCH BIGGER
THAN THE LAST ONE.

[ REEL CRANKING ]

IT'S GOING THE ENTIRE LENGTH
OF THE LAKE.

TO KEEP THE LINE CLEAR OF SNAGS,

I HAVE TO GET IN THE WATER.

IT'S HEAVY.
IT'S NOT WANTING TO SHOW ITSELF.

I KEEP THINKING
IT'S NEARLY READY,

AND THEN IT JUST GOES OFF AGAIN.

[ GRUNTS ]

COULD THIS HEAVYWEIGHT,

PERHAPS, BE THE MEKONG'S
MYSTERIOUS MUTILATOR?

Wade: I'M ON THE HUNT

FOR A MONSTER THAT'S STALKING
CAMBODIA'S MEKONG RIVER,

SLICING CHUNKS OFF FISHERMEN.

[ SCREAMS ]

Wade:
AFTER A WEEK OF SEARCHING,

I'VE YET TO COME UP
WITH A SUSPECT.

BUT IN A LAKE
WHERE THE MEKONG'S LARGEST FISH

ARE PROTECTED,

I'M HOPING TO FIND A BEAST
THAT FITS THE BILL.

AND SOMETHING BIG
HAS JUST TAKEN OFF WITH MY BAIT.

AS LONG AS MY FEET
ARE FIRMLY PLANTED...

OKAY.
...I'M NOT IN DANGER.

I'M GONNA COME BACK A BIT.

BUT ONE MORE POWERFUL WRENCH
ON MY LINE,

AND THE FISH HAS THE ADVANTAGE.

[ BREATHING SHARPLY ]

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M JUST TOUCHING THE GROUND.

[ GRUNTS ]

IT TAKES 40 MINUTES
OF BACK-BREAKING STRUGGLE

BEFORE I START TO GAIN
THE UPPER HAND.

I CAN'T SEE THE FISH.

THERE'S THE FISH ON THE SURFACE.

THIS IS ONE
OF THE BIGGEST FRESHWATER FISH

ON THE PLANET.

AH.

LARGE MEKONG CATFISH.

VERY HARD TO HOLD UP,
VERY HEAVY,

BUT ALSO
JUST INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

I CAN'T THINK
OF ANY OTHER FISH THIS SIZE

WHICH IS THIS POWERFUL,

AND ONE OF THE REASONS
IS THIS HUGE TAIL HERE.

BUT IT'S ALSO ALL THE MUSCLE
THAT POWERS THAT,

AND THERE WERE
A COUPLE OF MOMENTS

I THOUGHT I MIGHT GO
UNDER AND BE TOWED

INTO THE MIDDLE
OF THE LAKE.

Wade:
MEKONG GIANT CATFISH CAN GROW
TO WELL OVER 600 POUNDS,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY THIS FISH IS
CAPABLE OF TEARING INTO A HUMAN.

I CAN'T SEE ANY TEETH,

AND IF I PUT MY HAND
IN THERE,

THERE'S NOTHING AT ALL.

SO ALTHOUGH IT TOOK SOME VERY
STRONGLY FLAVORED FISH BAIT,

WHICH IS QUITE UNUSUAL
FOR ONE OF THESE,

WHICH IS NORMALLY
A HERBIVORE, VEGETARIAN,

THERE'S NO WAY THIS CAN CUT
OR SLICE ANYTHING OR ANYBODY.

Wade: DESPITE ITS SIZE,

THIS GIANT IS NO MORE A SUSPECT
THAN A TOOTHLESS CARP

OR AN ENDANGERED TURTLE.

I FISH HERE
FOR A FURTHER TWO DAYS,

BUT IT BECOMES APPARENT
THAT THIS LAKE HAS NO MORE CLUES

TO OFFER ME.

THE ONLY WAY
TO MOVE MY INVESTIGATION FORWARD

IS TO TRACK DOWN A VICTIM
ON THE MEKONG.

I RETURN TO THE VILLAGE
WHERE MR. LUN'S BROTHER

WAS ATTACKED AND START
WORKING MY WAY UPRIVER.

YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT ANYBODY IN THE WATER

BEING BITTEN BY ANYTHING?

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING
HERE THAT BITES THROUGH FLESH.

[ SCREAMS ]

Wade: BUT WHAT IS IT AND WHERE
ON THIS RIVER CAN I FIND IT?

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

MY PERSEVERANCE
EVENTUALLY PAYS OFF.

YOU'RE SAYING --
[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

Wade: ALTHOUGH THIS MAN
HAS NOT BEEN ATTACKED HIMSELF,

HE GIVES ME THE NAME OF SOMEONE

WHO HAS AND TELLS ME
WHERE I CAN FIND HIM.

THE VICTIM IS A YOUNG MAN
NAMED SOK HENG,

AND HE LIVES IN THE SLUM AREA
KNOWN AS KANDAL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS AREA

LIVE ON LESS THAN A DOLLAR
A DAY,

AND IT'S NOT OFTEN
THAT OUTSIDERS SHOW UP.

I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL BE WELCOME.

BUT WHEN I FIND HIM
AT HIS FAMILY HOME,

SOK AGREES TO TELL ME HIS STORY.

SO, CAN YOU TELL ME EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

Wade:
LISTENING TO HIS ACCOUNT,

IT SOON BECOMES CLEAR THAT
THIS MUST BE THE VERY ATTACK

THAT BROUGHT ME TO CAMBODIA.

IT WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE BACK
OF THE HOUSE HERE,

AND HE WAS WEARING A SORT
OF A WRAPAROUND,

A BIT LIKE A SARONG, I THINK,
CALLED A KRAMA.

MANY FISHERMEN WEAR KRAMAS
IN THE WATER...

BUT THEY LEAVE THE FLESH
BENEATH EXPOSED AND VULNERABLE.

SOK WAS CHECKING THE NETS

THAT HE'D SET
ALONGSIDE A FLOATING HOUSE...

WHEN HE FELT A SUDDEN,
SHARP PAIN IN HIS GROIN.

IT WAS ONLY
WHEN HE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL

THAT HE DISCOVERED THE
HORRIFYING EXTENT OF HIS INJURY.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

HE SAYS IT WAS A CLEAN CUT,

NO RAGGED EDGES AT ALL,

AND IT ACTUALLY CLEANLY REMOVED
PART OF HIS TESTICLE,

AND IT HAPPENED
IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

Wade: SOK DID NOT SEE
HIS ATTACKER.

IT VANISHED AS QUICKLY
AS IT HAD STRUCK.

WHATEVER THIS WAS,

IT JUST BIT HIM
AND THEN DISAPPEARED.

Wade: I RETRACE SOK'S FOOTSTEPS
DOWN TO THE RIVER'S EDGE.

THERE IS JUST SO MUCH STUFF
IN THE WATER.

THERE'S WEED,
BUT THERE'S ALSO BRANCHES.

THERE'S OLD BOATS.
THERE'S CABLE.

THE TRASH-STREWN ATTACK SITE
IMMEDIATELY

STARTS TO SHAPE MY THINKING
ABOUT THE PERPETRATOR.

TO INFILTRATE THESE CONGESTED,
DEBRIS-FILLED WATERS,

THE ATTACKER
MUST EITHER HAVE BEEN SMALL

LIKE A PIRANHA OR POSSIBLY
SNAKE-LIKE.

ANYTHING BULKY WOULD QUICKLY GET
CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE NETS

AND OTHER OBSTACLES.

SO WHAT COULD HAVE CRUELLY
EMASCULATED THE BOY?

FISH DON'T HAVE TO BE HUGE
TO INFLICT SERIOUS DAMAGE.

THE RED-BELLIED PIRANHA,

ARGUABLY ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST
VORACIOUS FRESHWATER PREDATORS

IS PROOF OF THAT.

COULD THE MEKONG'S
UNSEEN MUTILATOR

ALSO BE SOMETHING SMALL,
BUT EQUALLY SAVAGE?

I'VE COME OUT
TO SLIGHTLY DEEPER WATER

WHERE I'M HOPING TO FISH
WITHOUT GETTING SNAGGED.

ALL RIGHT, I'M PRETTY CERTAIN
THAT WHAT I'M AFTER

IS NOT PARTICULARLY LARGE,

SO I'M NOT HAVING
TO USE VERY HEAVY GEAR HERE.

HOWEVER, IF IT IS CAPABLE
OF SLICING THROUGH FLESH

IN THE WAY THAT I'VE HEARD,

THEN THAT WOULD MAKE
VERY SHORT WORK

OF NORMAL FISHING LINES,

SO I'M USING WIRE
NEXT TO THE HOOK.

BASICALLY, SIMILAR
TO WHAT I'D USE FOR PIRANHAS,

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO BITE THROUGH THAT.

THIS TIME,
I KNOW I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE,

BUT THE RIVER STILL REFUSES
TO OFFER ANYTHING UP.

IN THE END, IT'S NOT THE WATER
BUT MY BOATMAN, COSEN,

WHO PROVIDES ME WITH THE CRUCIAL
LEAD I'M LOOKING FOR.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

HE TELLS ME ABOUT AN ANIMAL

THAT'S BEEN SLICING
HIS FISHING NETS CLEAN THROUGH.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

THIS IS ACTUALLY
QUITE STRONG MATERIAL.

IT'S ALMOST
LIKE IT'S GONE THROUGH

WITH SCISSORS OR CLIPPERS,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SOMETHING VERY SHARP.

IT'S NOT TORN.
IT'S CUT.

HE THEN BRINGS OUT SOMETHING
THAT I WASN'T EXPECTING.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

THE SKELETON OF ONE
OF THE VERY FISH

THAT'S BEEN SHREDDING HIS NETS.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

IT'S IDENTITY IS UNMISTAKABLE.

THIS IS
A FRESHWATER PUFFER FISH.

NAMED FOR ITS ABILITY TO PUFF
ITSELF UP WHEN THREATENED,

IT HAS A DECEPTIVELY FRIENDLY
APPEARANCE.

IT IS, IN FACT,

ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST
POISONOUS ANIMALS.

THE PARALYZING TOXINS
IN ITS BODY

ARE DEADLIER THAN CYANIDE

AND CAN KILL A PERSON
IN JUST 20 MINUTES.

BUT TO GET A LETHAL DOSE,
YOU'D HAVE TO EAT IT.

UNTIL NOW,
I NEVER THOUGHT THIS FISH

WOULD ACTUALLY GO FOR PEOPLE.

[ SCREAMS ]

Wade:
YET, LOOKING AT ITS JAWS,

I CAN SEE
HOW IT COULD CUT CHUNKS

OUT OF A MUCH LARGER ANIMAL,
PIRANHA STYLE.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS
QUITE A SMALL SPECIMEN,

THIS APPARATUS
HERE IS REALLY SERIOUS.

ITS FOUR BLADE-LIKE TEETH

COME TOGETHER
LIKE A MINIATURE GUILLOTINE.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

COSEN TELLS ME THAT HIS NETS
WERE SHREDDED NOT HERE,

BUT IN A DISTANT LAKE
CALLED TONLE SAP,

WHERE THE WATERS ARE APPARENTLY
SWARMING WITH PUFFER FISH.

BY NOW, WORD
OF MY INVESTIGATION HAS SPREAD,

AND BEFORE I EVEN
LEAVE THE SLUMS OF KANDAL,

I'M APPROACHED
BY A MAN NAMED SAM AL,

WHO HAS A STORY
OF HIS OWN TO TELL ME.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

HE VIVIDLY RECALLS BEING
ATTACKED BY A PUFFER FISH

WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.

THIS IS WHEN HE
WAS ABOUT 14 YEARS OLD,

AND HE WAS WITH A COUPLE
OF FRIENDS IN THE RIVER HERE.

AS HE DUCKED UNDER THE SURFACE,

THE FISH STRUCK HIS FACE
WITHOUT WARNING.

[ SCREAMING ]

HE BLED A LOT.

HIS FATHER CAME,
STOPPED THE BLEEDING,

AND HE'S PRACTICALLY BLIND
IN THAT EYE NOW.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

Wade: HE GOES ON
TO TELL ME ABOUT ANOTHER,

MUCH MORE DISTURBING ATTACK.

I CAN ONLY HOPE
I'M NOT THE NEXT VICTIM.

Wade:
ON THE MEKONG RIVER IN CAMBODIA,
I'M ON THE TRAIL OF A CREATURE

THAT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN
MUTILATING PEOPLE FOR DECADES.

AND MY INVESTIGATION HAS LED ME
TO A SURPRISING CULPRIT.

LIKE THE VORACIOUS PIRANHA,

THE TINY FRESHWATER PUFFER FISH
PUNCHES WELL ABOVE ITS WEIGHT.

SAM AL'S RIGHT EYE

BEARS THE SCARS OF A CHILDHOOD
ENCOUNTER WITH THIS FISH.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

BUT HE KNOWS
OF AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS ASSAULT.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

I THOUGHT BEING BITTEN
ON THE EYE,

BEING PRACTICALLY BLINDED
WAS BAD,

BUT THIS WAS A VIETNAMESE MAN
WHO WAS IN THE WATER.

Wade: HE HAD GONE
TO CHECK HIS FISH TRAPS

WHEN SOMETHING UNSEEN SANK
ITS TEETH INTO ONE OF HIS LEGS.

THOUGH HE MADE IT TO SHORE,

THE BLOOD LOSS WAS SO SEVERE
THAT HE BLED TO DEATH.

HE SAYS HE ACTUALLY
SAW THE BODY,

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS
HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE WOUND --

CLEAN WOUND THAT MUST HAVE
JUST GONE SO DEEP

THAT IT WENT
THROUGH AN ARTERY.

Wade:
MY GUESS IS THAT THE BITE

ACTUALLY SEVERED
THE VICTIM'S POPLITEAL ARTERY

WHICH RUNS BEHIND THE KNEE.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

FROM THE INJURIES,

WITNESSES HAD NO DOUBT THAT
HIS KILLER WAS A PUFFER FISH.

AND IN THIS CASE,

IT WAS THE FISH'S TEETH,
NOT ITS POISON,

THAT PROVED FATAL.

[ HORN HONKS ]

SAM AL CONFIRMS WHAT THE BOATMAN
HAS ALREADY TOLD ME,

THAT THE BEST PLACE TO CATCH
THESE FISH IS AT TONLE SAP LAKE.

CONNECTED BY A CHANNEL
TO THE MEKONG,

TONLE SAP IS THE LARGEST
NATURAL LAKE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

IN THE WET SEASON,

IT SWELLS TO OVER
4,000 SQUARE MILES.

THE HUGE QUANTITY OF FISH HERE

MAKES IT VITAL
TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS
OF THE COUNTRY'S INLAND CATCH

COMES FROM THIS ONE LAKE,

WHICH IS KNOWN LOCALLY
AS CAMBODIA'S BEATING HEART.

[ DOG BARKING ]

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE STORIES
OF PUFFER FISH ATTACKS

ARE COMING THICK AND FAST.

HE SAYS
NOT ONLY ARE THEY HERE,

PEOPLE ARE GETTING BITTEN.

THEY'RE GETTING
BITTEN ALL THE TIME --

ON AVERAGE,
ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE A DAY --

AND HE SAYS IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF MONTHS, YOU KNOW,

THIS PARTICULAR SEASON,
ABOUT 100 PEOPLE.

Wade:
ALMOST EVERY HOUSEHOLD I VISIT
HAS SUFFERED FROM THE ATTENTIONS

OF THIS PROLIFIC MUTILATOR.

THIS MAN HAS A VERY UGLY WOUND
ON HIS ARM.

HE SAID IT HAPPENED
JUST 10 DAYS AGO.

HE SAYS HE LITERALLY HAD
TO TEAR THE PUFFER FISH OFF.

THIS LAKE APPEARS TO BE PLAGUED
BY THESE SERIAL ATTACKERS,

AND FOR THE PEOPLE HERE,
THERE'S NO ESCAPE.

THEIR SURVIVAL DEPENDS
ON GETTING INTO THE WATER.

AND EVERY TIME THEY DO SO,

IT'S A GAMBLE WHETHER
THEY'LL EMERGE UNSCATHED.

MAYBE IT'S HERE THAT I'LL
FINALLY BE ABLE TO TEMPT

ONE OF THESE BABY-FACED KILLERS
ONTO MY LINE.

WELL, THERE'S NO INTEREST
IN MY BAIT AT ALL.

THE THING IS,
I KNOW THEY'RE DOWN HERE.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BITTEN
IN JUST THE LAST FEW DAYS,

BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING
FOR MY BAIT.

I'VE BEEN ASSUMING
THAT ALL THE ATTACKS

I'VE HEARD ABOUT WERE ATTEMPTS
TO FEED, TO TAKE A MOUTHFUL.

[ SCREAMS ]

Wade: BUT MAYBE THESE FISH
ONLY BITE IN SELF-DEFENSE,

WHEN THEY'RE DISTURBED.

IF THAT'S THE CASE,

I CAN PROBABLY SIT HERE
FOR AS LONG AS I LIKE,

AND I'M NOT GONNA CATCH
ANYTHING.

IT SEEMS THE ONLY WAY
I'M GOING TO SEE THIS ANIMAL

IS TO HOOK UP
WITH SOME LOCALS...

AND FISH WITH A NET.

THESE PEOPLE
ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR

WITH THE PUFFER FISH MENACE.

WHEN I ASK, THEY AGREE
TO LET ME JOIN THEM

FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

[ SPEAKING KHMER ]

THIS GUY,
HE'S JUST SHOWING ME

WHAT LOOKS LIKE
A VERY FRESH BITE.

SOMETIMES, THEY BITE
THROUGH THE NET.

IF YOU'RE HANDLING THEM,
AND YOU'RE NOT VERY CAREFUL,

THEY'LL BITE YOU.

Wade: THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS
AT THE MOMENT

OF JUST PAYING OUT THE NET.

ONE OF THE TWO BOATS
JUST PAYS THAT OUT IN A CIRCLE,

AND THEN GRADUALLY,
THEY'LL GATHER THAT IN.

AND THE BIT
THAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS SEEING

WHAT HAS BECOME CONCENTRATED
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT NET.

BUT PUFFER FISH AREN'T THE ONLY
THINGS AROUND HERE THAT BITE.

THESE MURKY WATERS ARE TEEMING
WITH AQUATIC HUNTERS.

WE HAVE A SNAKE IN THE NET.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY
UNDERNEATH MY FEET.

I COULD ACTUALLY FEEL
SOMETHING MOVING AT SOME POINT.

I JUST ASSUMED
IT WAS A FISH.

Wade: IT'S AT THIS POINT
THAT SOMETHING UNPLEASANT

DAWNS ON ME.

RETRIEVING THE NET
REQUIRES GETTING INTO THE WATER.

Wade: IN THE SNAKE-INFESTED
WATERS OF TONLE SAP,

I'VE JOINED FORCES
WITH A FAMILY OF FISHERMEN.

I'M HOPING TO SEE A FISH

THAT'S BEEN BUSY BITING CHUNKS
OUT OF PEOPLE HERE.

BUT TO STOP OUR NET FROM
SNAGGING ON SUBMERGED BRANCHES,

IT'S NECESSARY TO JUMP IN.

AND IT'S BECOME CLEAR
THAT I'M NOT HERE JUST TO WATCH.

I DIDN'T ACTUALLY REALIZE
THAT THIS WAS GOING

TO BE PART OF THE DEAL.

SIGN LANGUAGE --
I WAS JUST TOLD,

"GET IN THE WATER."

IF, AS I NOW SUSPECT,
THE PUFFER FISH

ARE BITING IN SELF-DEFENSE,

THEN CORRALLING THEM IN A NET
IS JUST ABOUT

THE LAST THING
I SHOULD BE DOING.

I'M STARTING TO WONDER
IF I'LL BE THE NEXT VICTIM.

SOMETHING JUST GOT ME.
SOMETHING JUST GOT ME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS.

I MEAN, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
A CATFISH SPINE OR SOMETHING.

WITH THE NET FREED FROM SNAGS,

IT'S TIME TO HAUL IT IN
AND FIND OUT WHAT WE'VE CAUGHT.

THERE'S A HUGE VARIETY OF FISH,

BUT ONLY ONE
OF THEM INTERESTS ME.

THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THIS IS THE FISH, THEY TELL ME,

THAT'S BEEN BITING PEOPLE HERE.

BEHIND ITS HARMLESS APPEARANCE,

THIS PINT-SIZED ANIMAL
PACKS SOME VICIOUS WEAPONRY.

THIS IS NOT A FISH
TO BE TRIFLED WITH.

[ TEETH CLACKING ]

I'M JUST BEING VERY CAREFUL
HERE.

JUST HOPING
HE DOESN'T MOVE SUDDENLY.

I CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY NOW
THOSE MOUTH PARTS.

NOW THAT I'VE GOT ONE,

I WANT TO TEST ITS BITE.

OH!

THAT WAS A VERY GRAPHIC
DEMONSTRATION.

THAT'S ALMOST CUT THAT FISH
IN HALF.

IT'S ACTUALLY GONE
THROUGH THE BACKBONE.

THIS FISH
HAS A PIRANHA-LIKE ABILITY

TO SLICE OFF BITS OF FLESH
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

AND LOOKING AT THAT,

THAT TRIANGULAR WOUND,
I'M LEFT OF NO DOUBT

THAT IF ANY PART OF ME
WERE TO TOUCH THOSE JAWS, IT

WOULD JUST SLICE
IT CLEAN THROUGH.

AND THIS ONE IS NOT ALONE.

IN JUST 20 MINUTES,
WE'VE PULLED UP DOZENS OF THEM.

IT'S ALL ADDING UP.

YOU RARELY FIND PUFFER FISH
IN THE MARKET.

BECAUSE OF THEIR DEADLY TOXINS,

THEY'RE LEFT IN THE WATER WHERE
THEY'RE MULTIPLYING UNCHECKED.

THERE ARE NOW SWARMS OF
THESE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FISH

SWIMMING
RIGHT UNDER PEOPLE'S FEET.

FROM EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD
AND NOW SEEN,

I'M LEFT IN VERY LITTLE DOUBT

THAT A BITE FROM A PUFFER FISH
CAN BE EVERY BIT AS SEVERE

AS A BITE FROM A PIRANHA.

THE MEKONG, IT TURNS OUT,

IS A MINEFIELD IN MORE WAYS
THAN ONE.

YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT YOUR NEXT STEP COULD BRING.