Mantas and Mobulas

 

Beautiful aren't they? These creatures are called mobula rays, a 3-10 foot cousin to the 25-foot manta ray. They are known for leaping out of the water like dolphins. To see them in action, go to this address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63ZtKgbQWZM

Sharks are not the only victims. The mobula and manta rays are also being killed for Chinese demand. Sharkfin and dried seafood traders are trying to get additional products to boost their profit. The rays' gill rakers are being traded to be used in a traditional and "unofficial" medicine tonic in China. To meet this demand, artisanal fisheries are turning into commercial fisheries. Manta and mobula ray populations can not take this pressure.  Like sharks, these creatures mature slowly in 15-20 years and have very few young, only one pup at up to six year intervals. These rays are more vulnerable than sharks and other rays and in just a few short years, regional populations have been wiped out. These animals are pulled from the sea with fishing nets or spears in the Philippines and Indonesia just to be slaughtered and have their gills cut out. More than 2,000 mantas are killed each year in Indonesia alone. That may not seem like a very big number but with animals as rare as mantas, it's a huge number. This cannot continue. These creatures are so rare and so gentle that it makes me very sad to think that this is happening to them.

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid

Credit goes to Manta Ray of Hope / Shark Savers / WildAid