# Man-Eating River Monsters The Goonch Catfish By Cowbag | Published 2008-10-13 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flesh-eating-river-monster-does-goonch-catfish-eat-humans References: [thesun](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/weird/article1784470.ece) A [mutant fish](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/demogorgon-crunch) has started killing people after being accustomed to feeding on human corpses. A goonch, a [huge type of catfish](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/american-unagi), developed a taste for flesh in an Indian river where bodies are dumped after funerals. However, they now fear it has moved on from scavenging to snatching unwary bathers. The extraordinary creature has been investigated by [biologist Jeremy Wade](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mothman-style-mysterious-spice-blend-chip) for a TV documentary to be shown in the UK. The first victim of a goonch attack was thought to have been a 17-year-old Nepalese boy who was killed in April 1988 as he cooled himself in the river. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 100% | Activity: 100% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Killer Fish Threat:** The rise of killer fish populations in certain rivers and oceans threatens the safety of swimmers, surfers, and other water sport enthusiasts. - **Dangerous Wildlife Behavior:** The abnormal behavior of certain species towards humans is becoming more frequent, as environments change and animals adapt to new food sources. - **Mutant Species Development:** More and more often, mutant species are being discovered that pose a significant threat to human safety. ### Who This Affects Most - **Tourism:** As these dangerous animals become more common in popular tourist destinations, it may be necessary for businesses to provide protective measures for visitors. - **Fishing and Hunting:** Fishermen and hunters face an increased risk for injury or death as certain species start to exhibit more aggressive behavior. - **Environmental Protection:** As the environment changes and these mutant species emerge, there may be opportunities for innovative solutions that balance human safety with environmental protection. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Unconventional Fish Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/woop4.md) - [Cajun-Spiced Catfish Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cajun-catfish-sandwich-combo.md) - [Insect Protein-Fed Trout](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/finnish-brands.md) - [Fiery Tuna Packets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-tuna-packet-with-ghost-pepper.md) - [Horror Film-Inspired Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/death-for-dinner-cookbook.md) - [Horror-Themed QSR Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jack-in-the-box-feeding-time.md) - [Fish-Attracting Net Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selective-fishing-underwater-light.md) - [Fish Pic Dating App Bans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fish-pics.md) - [Plant-Based Fish Substitutes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jackfruit-fish-fillet.md)