The killing of a huge anguilla marmorata, nicknamed “fish king” by local people, has stirred up anger among many diving enthusiasts in the city of Nanning, capital of Guangxi province.

Photos circulating online show the fish pierced through its head, with tools that resemble fish guns lying on the ground. The meter-long anguilla marmorata lived in Lingwandong, a cave in Nanning's Lingwan Lake. Lingwan Lake is a popular diving site in Guangxi, and divers have been encountering the "king fish" for six or seven years. The sightings made Lingwan Lake famous, attracting divers from around the country.

Forest police and the fishery administration department are currently working to collect more evidence about the case. The identity of the poacher is still unknown. Local diving enthusiasts speculate that the fish was killed between Nov. 19 and 20.