Didier ‘Jaba’ Mathieu

‘The Flight Of The Arowana’

During conversations with Kallang residents, Jaba discovered the intriguing ‘Dragon Fish’ and how it came to be so popular. Asian Arowana also affectionately known as Dragon Fish in Asia, is native to Southeast Asia. They used to inhabit rivers and wetland, where the water is soft and acidic. In the 1970s, the fish was nearly depleted from the wild. Conservation efforts propelled it to fame as the species was put on the endangered list and banned from global trade, thus becoming perceived as rare. Today, it is seen as a majestic fish and often regarded as a symbol of luck, wealth and prosperity among the Chinese community.