Among the fish populations that could be harmed by the Xayaburi dam in Laos is the critically endangered Mekong giant catfish, considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world’s largest freshwater fish. The fish, which grows to 650 pounds and about 10 feet long, is only found in the Mekong River. It is migratory, moving between downstream habitats in Cambodia upstream to northern Thailand and Laos each year to spawn. Some experts fear the Xayaburi dam could block the migration and drive the giant catfish to extinction. (Photo by Courtesy of Zeb Hogan/University of Nevada, Reno)

Ivy on a house in North Queensferry, UK begins to turn from green to red as autumn draws nearer on August 26, 2024. (Photo by South West News Service)

A pheasant is seen among grasses in Bursa, Turkiye on October 07, 2024. Pheasants mostly live in forested areas, thickets and wetlands. Unlike females, male pheasants have a much more remarkable structure with their long tails and feathers in bright and variable colors. Also, they feed on fruits, grains, seeds and invertebrates. (Photo by Alper Tuydes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

A sea otter in the Great Bear Rainforest, off the Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada in the second decade of December 2024, appeared to be enjoying a relaxing swim as it preened its fur, the densest of any mammal. (Photo by Max Waugh/Solent News & Photo Agency)

On the morning of February 14, 2025, the arrival of spring was celebrated in a festive atmosphere under the Bakul tree at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Dressed in vibrant shades of yellow and orange, people welcomed the season with music, dance, and traditional attire, embracing the warmth and joy of new beginnings. (Photo by Rubel Karmaker/ZUMA Press Wire/Alamy Live News)

Italy's Valentina Greggio during the Women's Speed Skiing at the World Speed Skiing Championship and World Record Attempt in Vars, France, on March 27, 2025. (Photo by Manon Cruz/Reuters)

A tourist's umbrella blows upside down as she covers from the heavy rain and high winds, while she tours the city centre, as storm Konrad hits Spain, Portugal and France, in Ronda, Spain, on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Jon Nazca/Reuters)

People shop at a market ahead of the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong on February 6, 2024 ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon which falls on February 10. (Photo by Peter Parks/AFP Photo)