in the Maldives, manta rays are preserved

Manta rays are nicknamed the devil of the seas with their fins, which can measure up to 7 meters in wingspan. In the northeast of the Maldives, several dozen rays pass by every day, attracted by the plankton. “I was curious to know what it looked like and when I saw them I was fascinated”, says a tourist. In order not to disturb the animal, scuba diving is prohibited and only masks and snorkels are allowed. Tourists should not touch manta rays.

For 17 years, an association has been studying these fish. “Females only give birth once every two to five years, so the population has a hard time regenerating, which is why it’s important to protect them”, explains Ellie Strike, researcher for Manta Trust – Four Seasons Resort Maldives, Landaa Giraavaru. Each ray has a unique spot pattern on its belly, which makes it easy to identify and study them. Since 2011, the bay has been protected by Unesco to preserve the species.