Manta ray, also called devil ray, any of several genera of marine rays comprising the family Mobulidae (class Selachii). Flattened and wider than they are long, manta rays have fleshy enlarged pectoral fins that look like wings; extensions of those fins, looking like a devil’s horns, project as the cephalic fins from the front of the head. Manta rays have short whip like tails provided, in some species, with one or more stinging spines.

Manta rays, related to sharks and skates, are found in warm waters along continents and islands. They swim at or near the surface, propelling themselves by flapping their pectoral fins and, at times, leaping or somersaulting out of the water. They feed on plankton and small fishes that they sweep into their mouths with their cephalic fins.

The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 23 feet (7 m) in width while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 18 feet (5.5 m). In November of 2011, both species were listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Anthropogenic (human impact) threats include pollution, entanglement in fishing nets and direct harvesting for their gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine. M. birostris is not evenly distributed over the oceans but is concentrated in areas that provide the food resources it requires, while M. alfredi has an even tighter range. They are protected in international waters by the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMA), but become more vulnerable closer to shore. Because of their long lifespan and low reproductive rate, overfishing can severely reduce local populations with a small likelihood that individuals from elsewhere will replace them.

In 2014, Indonesia brought in fishing and export ban as it realized that manta ray tourism is more economically beneficial than allowing the fish to be killed. A dead manta is worth $40 to $500 while manta ray tourism can bring in $1 million during the life of a single manta ray. Indonesia has 2.2 million square miles (5.8 million square kilometers) of ocean and this is now the world’s largest sanctuary for manta rays. Sites at which manta rays congregate attract tourists, and manta viewing generates substantial annual revenue for local communities. Tourist sites also exist in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Spain, the Fiji Islands, Thailand, Indonesia, Hawaii, Western Australia and the Maldives and are worth an estimated $73 million U.S. dollars per year.

I personally love this creature very much. I saw a Nat Geo documentary “Racing Extinction” from where I get to know about Manta Ray. I saw how grave yard become beautiful home in Indonesia for this beautiful creature and how local people become god from devil to them. I suggest every reader to watch that documentary.

We can see that Manta Rays are being protected and it is increasing the economy in different places in Indonesia, We must aware people that killing animals cannot help in sustainable livelihood. In Nepal also we are preserving one horned rhinos and it is helping us to bring more tourists. We must save every animals and living creatures in this beautiful earth and as an ambassador it is our duty to create awareness among people about conservation of local endangered species.

“Together We Can”

Thank You

 Source

 https://dtmag.com/new-hope-for-endangered-mantas/