Cut yet alive: Rare mackerel incident at Malpe harbour stuns onlookers


Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jan 27: A rare and surprising incident was reported at Malpe Harbour in Udupi, where a mackerel fish was found alive even after being cut.

A customer had purchased mackerel from a woman vendor at the harbour and requested her to cut it.

While the vendor was cleaning and cutting the fish and placing it in a tub, one of the fish was seen wriggling, indicating that it was still alive.

The unusual sight left people present at the harbour shocked and astonished. Several bystanders recorded the incident on their mobile phones.

The video has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and curiosity among netizens.


 

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • prem, moodbidri

    Wed, Jan 28 2026

    possessed...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Malinga, Kudla

    Wed, Jan 28 2026

    How can anyone cut a living being and eat it!!! Cruelty to the core!!!

    DisAgree [18] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Thomas P. Andrade, Toronto

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    I clearly remember an incident happened during my twenties. A relative had given us some fish he had caught, and I think it is Tiguru. My mother cleaned and cut the fish, removed the intestines, and applied masala, preparing it for frying. About three to four hours later, I started frying the fish and placed all the pieces in the pan. To my shock, one of the fish suddenly jumped out of the pan, even though it had been cut and cleaned hours earlier. That incident is still vivid in my memory. I often wonder how only one fish still showed signs of life while all the others were completely lifeless.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    Do not worry. Buy few killos and keep in the freezer shall kg packets. Opportunities do not come often.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anil, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    I know this may be unpopular, but choosing vegetarian food matters. Killing other living beings harms the environment and goes against our moral conscience. As evolved humans, we should choose what is ethical.

    DisAgree [36] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bobato Charlie, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    Anil, Mangalore — plants also have life!

    DisAgree [5] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodriguez, Mangalore-Mumbai

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    There seems to be no scientific reasoning to your views; in Nature, for every living being, there is a predator higher up in the chain so that the population of each species is naturally controlled; without this mechanism, everything would go haywire; man is the topmost in this chain; but excessive fishing or slaughtering of animals living in the wild is extremely detrimental to this delicate balancing act! In fact in Sharks, there is a phenomenon called "intrauterine cannibalism" wherein the strongest baby in the uterus devours the weaker ones to become more stronger to face the outside competitive environment! Also, in one particular religious community, the final rites are conducted by first offering the dead body to vultures to feed on!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodriguez, Mangalore-Mumbai

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    There seems to be absolutely no scientific reasoning to your views; in Nature, for every living being, there is a predator higher up in the chain so that the population of each species is naturally controlled; without this mechanism, everything would go haywire; man is the topmost in this chain; but excessive fishing or slaughtering of animals living in the wild is extremely detrimental to this delicate balancing act! In fact in Sharks, there is a phenomenon called "intrauterine cannibalism" wherein the strongest baby in the uterus devours the weaker ones to become more stronger to face the outside competitive environment! The same cannibalism is seen in many mammals from lions to hamsters for their survival & reproductivereasons! Also, in one particular religious community, the final rites are conducted by first offering the dead body to vultures to feed on!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bobato Charlie, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    Anil, Mangalore — Plants also have life!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bobato Charlie, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    Fish often exhibit movement—such as twitching, fin movement, or tail flopping—after being cut, gutted, or even decapitated because their muscles and nerves continue to function independently of the brain for a short time after death. This post-mortem movement is not a sign of consciousness, but rather a reflection of residual nervous activity, energy reserves (ATP), and environmental stimulation. Here is a breakdown of why this phenomenon occurs: Residual Nerves and Spinal Reflexes: Fish have a more decentralized nervous system than mammals, meaning the spinal cord can independently control basic motor functions. Even when the brain is destroyed or removed, nerves in the body continue to fire, resulting in involuntary muscle spasms; Residual Energy (ATP): Muscle tissue does not instantly shut down upon death. Cells still contain adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the chemical energy required for muscle contraction. These muscles can continue to contract for a period until this energy is completely depleted; Stimulation by Salt and Soy Sauce: The application of salt or soy sauce on freshly cut, raw fish can cause violent twitching. The high concentration of sodium triggers the nerve endings, which still have some electrical potential, causing the muscles to fire; Cold-Blooded Metabolism: Fish are cold-blooded (ectothermic) and have a slow metabolic system, which allows their nervous system and tissues to remain "active" longer than warm-blooded animals; and Rigor Mortis Process: Before full stiffness (rigor mortis) sets in, the muscles are in a "pre-rigor" state, during which they are still pliable and responsive to stimulation. In some cultures, fish are served in a way that allows diners to witness this phenomenon, often in Japan, where filleted, yet moving, fish are served. While the fish is technically dead, these movements can persist for a substantial period, making it appear as if the fish is still alive.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sudhakar, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    It's spirit has not left the body completely.

    DisAgree [17] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai-Mangalauru

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    OMG 😮!!

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Frwdo, Mangalore

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    It is not alive. The nerves are causing it to twitch. This is how the nervous system has evolved. Gen Z classifies this as alive.. Oldies may recall those days if a snake was killed it would be cut ✂️ into 3 or 4 piece. If not done so if a person stamped on the dead snake it would bite him

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai-Mangalauru

    Tue, Jan 27 2026

    This is a well documented phenomenon in medical science, although this looks very prominent & prolonged; that a fish's heart often continues to beat for a significant amount of time after it has been cut out of the body or after the fish has died. This phenomenon occurs because fish cardiac muscles possess a high degree of automaticity, meaning they generate their own electrical impulses (via a pacemaker near the atrium) and can contract independently of the brain or central nervous system.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse


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