WILD FL – Massive manta rays discovered in South Florida! – Manta rays establish shadowy presence in S. Marine Megafauna Foundation – The Florida Manta Project NOAA Fisheries – Species Directory: Giant Manta Ray ANGARI Foundation & UF TESI – Ocean Expert Exchange: The Florida Manta Project ![]() Interested in learning more about giant manta rays? We’ve curated resources that will allow students, and lifelong learners alike, to investigate in more detail! Skye is the only accurate 3D model of a manta ray and an invaluable digital specimen to represent Florida’s manta ray population as well as manta rays globally. Finally, the model was rigged for final animation, which accurately depicts Skye’s swimming motion and the lifelike movement of his cephalic fins during feeding. Even the ray’s scars from a boat prop are noticeable. This friendly manta ray was happy to be photographed, filmed and measured during the team’s field expedition. Using collected footage and measurement data, the Digital Life animator recreated the manta ray’s shape, gills, mouth and other attributes, including adding Skye’s identifying details and texture. Skye, a 2.5 meter (8 feet), juvenile male manta ray was chosen for modeling. The goal: create an accurate, 3D model of an animated manta ray. Continued research, mitigation of threats and increased public education is crucial for the conservation of Florida’s manta rays.”ĭigital Life and ANGARI Foundation teamed up with The Florida Manta Project to help educate and bring awareness to Florida manta rays. We were also disheartened to see so many mantas entangled in fishing line and with injuries from boat propellers. Jessica Pate, Lead Scientist for the Florida Manta Project describes the local population, “We were incredibly surprised to learn that this population is composed exclusively of juvenile manta rays. The Florida Manta Project, a research group within the Marine Megafauna Foundation, has been studying manta rays off the east coast of Florida since 2016. The two were conducting research along with Planeta Oceano, with support from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, and are seeking more protection for critters that are vulnerable to all types of indiscriminate fishing practices.Meet Skye, one of the many giant manta rays living off the east coast of Florida.įlorida is home to a large seasonal aggregation of adult manta rays and also serves as an important manta ray nursery. “Perhaps out of curiosity, or possibly to send a not-so-subtle message, the manta performed its acrobatic somersault and scooped Josh’s fins between its cephalic fins, sending Josh spinning,” Heinrichs wrote. Heinrichs theorizes that this manta may have never encountered a diver before, and was merely reacting to the presence of a strange invader in its midst. Divers used to ride on their backs, before that came to be regarded as intrusive and disrespectful. It must have been a huge surprise, as mantas are among the ocean’s gentlest of giants. “I suffered no injuries but it was certainly a big surprise.” “I was just swimming down as I usually do to capture a manta ID shot and before I knew it, I was engulfed in the wings of this massive manta as I tumbled through the water,” Stewart recalled. ![]() Josh Stewart trying to shoot a photo of the manta’s belly video screen grab Stewart was trying to photograph the belly of the manta ray as part of a long-term identification project for Manta Trust, aimed at better understanding these mysterious plankton eaters. ![]() “In all my years of filming and interacting with manta rays, I have never witnessed such an extraordinary interaction between a manta ray and a swimmer,” Shawn Heinrichs, a renowned photographer and cinematographer, wrote on the WildAid blog. Cheeky Giant Manta from Blue Sphere Media on Vimeo. Giant mantas are revered by divers, who find their presence soothing because they’re so gentle, and soar through the ocean with such grace.īut during a recent expedition to a remote area off Peru, Josh Stewart was surprised to find himself being tucked into the winged fins of a 15-foot manta and somersaulted during an encounter that might be the first of its kind. Josh Stewart being swept up by a manta ray video screen grab
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |