The walrus fish (Odobenus rosmarus), a species originating from South America, was unable to reproduce in Vietnam until a farmer in Tay Ninh province proved the reverse.

Ngo Van Phuoc, 60, of Trang Bang district, built interconnected fish ponds in Loc Vinh hamlet covering a total area of 300 square meters with the depth of 0.8-1.5 meters.

Many different fish are bred together in ponds located near the Dong Canal of the Dau Tieng – Phuoc Hoa irrigation work, where the water often flows in or out of the ponds.

In early 2014, Phuoc began breeding seven walrus, each of which weighed 20-25 kilos. The fish were a gift from one of his friends.

At first, the fish were put into a separate pond surrounded with an steel net which prevented the fish from entering other ponds.

One year later, the fish died as the pond was no longer big enough for them. The others broke through the net and swam into other ponds.

As the fish could enter the open environment where they could easily find food, they grew rapidly.

One day in early 2015, Phuoc unexpectedly saw a mother fish leading a flock of small fish swimming in the ponds.

Phuoc estimated that there were about 1,000 fish in the flock. The mother fish resurfaced once every minute for fresh air.

In early May, 2015, when reporters came to visit the walrus farm, they saw fish as big as an adult’s wrist.

Parent fish quietly follow the baby fish as they search for food.

Vo Van Quang, 39, Phuoc’s son, said since the fish have escaped their pond, they have entered other ponds and eaten all the small fish.

Quang now has to feed the walrus fish 10 kilos of small fish that he buys every day.

“I just purchased another 500 kilos of small fish at VND45,000 per kilo last week,” Quang said.

People have flocked to his farm to see the fish, take pictures and shoot videos.

According to Quang, the walrus, living mostly in Amazon river valley in South America, is believed to be the largest freshwater fish species. It is also called ‘red fish’ because of the color of its body.

A mature walrus can be up to three meters long and weigh 200 kilos. It is a rare and precious species of fish named in the world’s Red Book.