@canvasofthewild

Oceanic manta rays are the largest ray species in the world, reaching over 23 feet from wingtip to wingtip and weighing over 5,000 pounds! These gentle giants are filter feeders, and spend their life constantly on the move seeking their tiny zooplankton prey. Once in abundance across the ocean, today the oceanic manta ray and many of its smaller cousins are considered endangered by the IUCN. This is largely due to the unsustainable practices of the fin and gill trade where they are actively hunted, as well as the commercial fishing industry where gear accidentally ensnares the species as bycatch. You can learn more about mantas on @mantatrust or discover ways you can help protect the species with our friends at the @oceanicpreservationsociety 💙 Their team has worked with the @misoolfoundation to protect mantas from hunting by creating a program that empowers Indonesian families through ecotourism rather than manta hunting. One hunted manta is worth around $500 on the market, in contrast, that same manta alive is estimated to be worth a whopping $1 million dollars over its lifespan from ecotourism. Being a world traveler, this species also occurs in #florida ! They sometimes make a pit stop to recharge on our coral reef with a nice spa day at the local cleaning station; where fish remove parasites, before continuing their pelagic journey. #seaofconnections Artwork by @kellyofthewild . . #manta #mantaray #mantarays #mantaart #mantalove #mantalover #rays #stingray #sharklove #sharklover #rayconservation #oceanlove #oceanlover #scientificillustration #steamlearning #steameducation #marinescience #ops #mantarays