Fat reward for catching flesh-eating fish

The government of Liuzhou City in southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is offering a 1,000-yuan (US$157) bounty for anyone who catches a piranha in the Liujiang River following the fish's bloody attacks on residents.

Piranha, a South American freshwater fish with sharp teeth, prey on other fish and animals. It bit the hands of two men three days ago in the Liujiang River and made the headlines.

Local people cast a massive net more than 10,000 meters long in the river and threw in baits to lure the fish, but no piranha has been caught, according to China News Service.

Fishing enthusiasts were seen lining along the river banks, eager to catch the fearsome predator, the report said.

Local fishery officials said piranha was introduced into China as aquarium fish, but some owners released them into the Liujiang River.