Manta Rays Endangered

The larger Manta Ray is less likely to be endangered due to the fact that they have very few natural predators. They include sharks and whales because these animals are so large they can also consume the larger prey. Humans as well as the threats to the natural habitat though is what continues to be a dark cloud hanging over the future of the Manta Ray. It is important to realize these elements and to understand what your role is in regards to it.

The smaller species of the Manta Ray is more at risk of being endangered. Due to their smaller size they aren’t able to migrate like the larger ones can. As a result they aren’t able to move to find adequate supplies of food. With the many changes going on in their natural habitat it can be only a matter of time until they are wiped out of such areas. Global warming is a problem too as it can result in the smaller bodies of water where they live to dry up. They may not realize they need to move until it is too late.

dead mantas

Dead Manta Rays in beach due to pollution
Image courtesy of NOAA

There is also the fear that commercial fishing in some areas can wipe them out quickly too. These smaller Manta Rays are more likely to get themselves tangled up in fishing nets than the larger species. This is believed to be what is taking place along the coast of California. There is no denying that there are less Manta Rays there than in the past. Yet it can’t be confirmed if they are being killed or if they are migrating. Of course there is no way that commercial fishing entities are going to let it be known just how many Manta Rays end up in their fishing nets annually.

Many conservation groups continue to explain that there is a great risk of endangerment due to the natural environment of the Manta Ray being bothered. Humans continue to move in on the areas that they live in. They bring in boats in addition to the fishing nets that are dangerous for these animals. Global warming and pollution continue to threaten their very existence. It is the hope of such conservation groups educate the public so that changes can be made to their current behaviors.

Realistically though we just don’t have a good idea of how many Manta Rays are really out there. This makes it very hard to make a case to the proper authorities to get them classified as endangered. As new locations for them are discovered it tends to make you wonder. What we do know though is that they can’t survive without enough food in their environment.

We also know that humans expose them to dangerous parasites and types of bacteria that can kill them as well. As chemicals and toxins enter the water these creatures become at risk. They have a very thin mucus membrane that protects them. Even being touched by humans can result in it being penetrated. That definitely increases their risk of being harmed by other elements in the water.

Hopefully we can find a way to get a better count of the number of Manta Rays that are out there. That will help us to know if we should classify them as endangered or not. In many areas though including Hawaii the government isn’t waiting for such confirmation. They already have laws in place that make it illegal to harm or to kill a Manta Ray. This is for conservation but also due to the amount of revenue that tourists pay annually to be in the waters with them.

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