A wildlife photographer in the southern Great Barrier Reef was delighted when a manta ray courtship ritual unfolded right before his eyes. Keelan Priscott visited Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort in the middle of manta ray season, saying “there are mating chains everywhere.” In one video shared on Instagram, Priscott filmed four manta rays twirling around each other in an elegant […]
Tag: manta rays
“Ewwww!” A diver was filming a manta ray, when this happened
Even when you have regular encounters with incredible marine creatures, they still have an endless capacity to surprise. So, although dive instructor Keren Flor had seen an oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) leave a trail of bright yellow excrement behind before, she decided to hit record on her camera when spotting this striking phenomenon on a dive […]
For sharks on the brink of extinction, CITES Appendix II isn’t protective enough (commentary)
Sharks are some of the most threatened animals on Earth, with approximately one-third of all species assessed as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List. These animals are not only older than dinosaurs, but older than trees, and yet they face a very real risk of extinction within our lifetimes. Their number one threat […]
Legal capture of endangered manta ray sparks bipartisan outrage in Florida
Florida authorities have agreed to review the issuing of special permits allowing companies to capture endangered creatures to sell, after an outcry over the netting of a huge manta ray for an aquarium in Abu Dhabi. The review comes after a viral video released on 12 July showed a boat crew capturing a giant manta […]
![Incredible Footage of Rare Manta Rays Leaping into the Air Captured [Video]](https://i2.wp.com/www.onegreenplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2232827727_921961e08e_b.jpg?w=750&resize=750,0&ssl=1 "Incredible Footage of Rare Manta Rays Leaping into the Air Captured [Video]")
Incredible Footage of Rare Manta Rays Leaping into the Air Captured [Video]
While there are many researchers currently at work studying the amazing marine life that calls the world’s oceans home, there is still plenty that remains unknown about our water-bound neighbors. Unfortunately, certain businesses, like marine parks, have taken it upon themselves to capture a number of these animals for display, calling it “education” or “Conservation,” […]
Local groups drive creation of new Puerto Rico marine protected area
The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico recently gained a new marine protected area off the island’s central north coast. The MPA, named Jardines Submarinos de Vega Baja y Manatí or the Vega Baja and Manatí Underwater Gardens, spans 202 square kilometers (77 square miles) and is the culmination of a 16-year effort by a coalition […]
Here’s What Would Happen if All Marine Species Disappeared
Marine species play a critical role in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems. Their existence is not only essential for the health of our oceans but also for the well-being of life on land. However, imagine a world where every marine species vanishes, leaving behind a barren and lifeless ocean. The implications of […]