An 8-year-old boy caught a piranha in a lake in Pennsylvania
Eight-year-old Seamus Coffey caught a large red-bellied piranha while fishing with his father, Michael, in a lake near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The boy was fishing for bass when he reeled in the fish with the sharp teeth characteristic of this South American species.
According to The Guardian, Michael Coffey didn’t recognize the catch at first and warned his son not to rush, so as not to lose the fish. Seamus immediately guessed it was a piranha. When asked how he knew what kind of fish it was, the boy replied, “Because I watch YouTube!”
Read more breaking news on the UA.News Telegram channel.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission later confirmed that the caught fish belongs to a species of piranha. Commission spokesperson Mike Parker told ABC that officials believe the fish likely ended up in the body of water after being released by the owner of an exotic pet.
According to Parker, keeping such species requires a specialized environment, special food, and constant care, and the animals themselves can live for a long time. He emphasized that releasing a pet into a river or pond is the worst possible decision for the animal. The Coffey family did not return the piranha to the lake and humanely disposed of the fish.
