when I was a child I was in love with
when I was a child I was in love with
when I was a child I was in love with
the ocean okay to be fair I was obsessed
the ocean okay to be fair I was obsessed
the ocean okay to be fair I was obsessed
maybe with the ocean um all of the
maybe with the ocean um all of the
maybe with the ocean um all of the
different faces of the ocean all the
different faces of the ocean all the
different faces of the ocean all the
different animals the the colors the
different animals the the colors the
different animals the the colors the
textures the sizes they just they
textures the sizes they just they
textures the sizes they just they
absolutely fascinated me that that tiny
absolutely fascinated me that that tiny
absolutely fascinated me that that tiny
little biologist inside of me wanted to
little biologist inside of me wanted to
little biologist inside of me wanted to
to talk with each and every one of them
to talk with each and every one of them
to talk with each and every one of them
I wanted to meet them all I wanted to
I wanted to meet them all I wanted to
I wanted to meet them all I wanted to
ask them where they came from where they
ask them where they came from where they
ask them where they came from where they
lived why they look the way that they do
lived why they look the way that they do
lived why they look the way that they do
um and you know I I I just I couldn't
um and you know I I I just I couldn't
um and you know I I I just I couldn't
wait to get underwater I wanted to meet
wait to get underwater I wanted to meet
wait to get underwater I wanted to meet
everything from the smallest most
everything from the smallest most
everything from the smallest most
unassuming Little Creatures to the the
unassuming Little Creatures to the the
unassuming Little Creatures to the the
largest fish in the sea when I finally
largest fish in the sea when I finally
largest fish in the sea when I finally
did actually take the plunge I was 12 um
did actually take the plunge I was 12 um
did actually take the plunge I was 12 um
and of all of the animals I met when I
and of all of the animals I met when I
and of all of the animals I met when I
was you know in those early years it was
was you know in those early years it was
was you know in those early years it was
the mantay that left the biggest
the mantay that left the biggest
the mantay that left the biggest
impression on me it was absolutely Gob
impression on me it was absolutely Gob
impression on me it was absolutely Gob
smacking the first time I saw it it was
smacking the first time I saw it it was
smacking the first time I saw it it was
the most beautiful most majestic animal
the most beautiful most majestic animal
the most beautiful most majestic animal
I had ever seen on the land or in the
I had ever seen on the land or in the
I had ever seen on the land or in the
water um and and I wanted to know more
water um and and I wanted to know more
water um and and I wanted to know more
um I it was love at first sight and
um I it was love at first sight and
um I it was love at first sight and
unfortunately I didn't know then that 15
unfortunately I didn't know then that 15
unfortunately I didn't know then that 15
years later I would describe a new
years later I would describe a new
years later I would describe a new
species of manta I would be devoting my
species of manta I would be devoting my
species of manta I would be devoting my
life to protecting this animal um but I
life to protecting this animal um but I
life to protecting this animal um but I
that passion was there just from the
that passion was there just from the
that passion was there just from the
beginning now Manas are cartilagenous
beginning now Manas are cartilagenous
beginning now Manas are cartilagenous
fish like all other sharks and rays and
fish like all other sharks and rays and
fish like all other sharks and rays and
they actually are the the kings of the
they actually are the the kings of the
they actually are the the kings of the
Rays they they get up to eight meters
Rays they they get up to eight meters
Rays they they get up to eight meters
dis wdth which is pretty big I'm sure
dis wdth which is pretty big I'm sure
dis wdth which is pretty big I'm sure
that you can imagine um here's a photo
that you can imagine um here's a photo
that you can imagine um here's a photo
of me taking a genetic sample of a
of me taking a genetic sample of a
of me taking a genetic sample of a
female in Ecuador um they dwarf you when
female in Ecuador um they dwarf you when
female in Ecuador um they dwarf you when
you swim next to them I have to admit
you swim next to them I have to admit
you swim next to them I have to admit
but there's there's things about them
but there's there's things about them
but there's there's things about them
that are more impressive than even their
that are more impressive than even their
that are more impressive than even their
size um mantas are are one of the only
size um mantas are are one of the only
size um mantas are are one of the only
pelagic rays in the ocean meaning they
pelagic rays in the ocean meaning they
pelagic rays in the ocean meaning they
swim all of the time they never stop
swim all of the time they never stop
swim all of the time they never stop
they never sleep imagine that you know
they never sleep imagine that you know
they never sleep imagine that you know
we estimate that they live between 40
we estimate that they live between 40
we estimate that they live between 40
and 50 years constantly moving
and 50 years constantly moving
and 50 years constantly moving
constantly they have uh the largest
constantly they have uh the largest
constantly they have uh the largest
brain of any fish relative to body size
brain of any fish relative to body size
brain of any fish relative to body size
a lot of people don't know that it makes
a lot of people don't know that it makes
a lot of people don't know that it makes
them really curious um one of the things
them really curious um one of the things
them really curious um one of the things
we notice is they they seek out divers
we notice is they they seek out divers
we notice is they they seek out divers
attention they swim through our bubbles
attention they swim through our bubbles
attention they swim through our bubbles
they engage us with with what could only
they engage us with with what could only
they engage us with with what could only
be described as play Behavior it is an
be described as play Behavior it is an
be described as play Behavior it is an
awesome experience to have an encounter
awesome experience to have an encounter
awesome experience to have an encounter
with one underwater awesome I suggest it
with one underwater awesome I suggest it
with one underwater awesome I suggest it
all of you guys um they are they are
all of you guys um they are they are
all of you guys um they are they are
planktivorous so they're not dangerous
planktivorous so they're not dangerous
planktivorous so they're not dangerous
um they feed on on Z Plankton suspended
um they feed on on Z Plankton suspended
um they feed on on Z Plankton suspended
in the water column and they feed day
in the water column and they feed day
in the water column and they feed day
and night they have to feed a lot
and night they have to feed a lot
and night they have to feed a lot
because they feed on the smallest
because they feed on the smallest
because they feed on the smallest
organisms in the
organisms in the
organisms in the
ocean now sometimes we seen them uh in
ocean now sometimes we seen them uh in
ocean now sometimes we seen them uh in
large schools hundreds of them feeding
large schools hundreds of them feeding
large schools hundreds of them feeding
cooperatively in these these massive
cooperatively in these these massive
cooperatively in these these massive
chains um and other times we see mantas
chains um and other times we see mantas
chains um and other times we see mantas
going at it alone just by themselves
going at it alone just by themselves
going at it alone just by themselves
swimming around in the open ocean what
swimming around in the open ocean what
swimming around in the open ocean what
we do know is that they're driven by the
we do know is that they're driven by the
we do know is that they're driven by the
need to feed but I I wanted to know more
need to feed but I I wanted to know more
need to feed but I I wanted to know more
and they're such an elusive animal and I
and they're such an elusive animal and I
and they're such an elusive animal and I
can't just go up and speak to them
can't just go up and speak to them
can't just go up and speak to them
they're difficult to study so what we
they're difficult to study so what we
they're difficult to study so what we
decided to do is look at their
decided to do is look at their
decided to do is look at their
distribution around the world and put a
distribution around the world and put a
distribution around the world and put a
new technology on them satellite tags on
new technology on them satellite tags on
new technology on them satellite tags on
them so we picked different spots across
them so we picked different spots across
them so we picked different spots across
the globe and all three of the world's
the globe and all three of the world's
the globe and all three of the world's
major oceans and we started slapping
major oceans and we started slapping
major oceans and we started slapping
these satellite tags on them um to find
these satellite tags on them um to find
these satellite tags on them um to find
out where these anim went what they got
out where these anim went what they got
out where these anim went what they got
up to and it's very expensive technology
up to and it's very expensive technology
up to and it's very expensive technology
um but it it opened the doors for us it
um but it it opened the doors for us it
um but it it opened the doors for us it
enabled us to see where they go what
enabled us to see where they go what
enabled us to see where they go what
they get up to every minute of every day
they get up to every minute of every day
they get up to every minute of every day
this this tag captures um information
this this tag captures um information
this this tag captures um information
about the surrounding uh water uh that
about the surrounding uh water uh that
about the surrounding uh water uh that
the Mantis swimming through every 10
the Mantis swimming through every 10
the Mantis swimming through every 10
seconds we deploy them for sometimes
seconds we deploy them for sometimes
seconds we deploy them for sometimes
four to six months so we get this really
four to six months so we get this really
four to six months so we get this really
up close and personal uh view of what
up close and personal uh view of what
up close and personal uh view of what
the Mantis are doing you know where they
the Mantis are doing you know where they
the Mantis are doing you know where they
live you know how they feed uh how they
live you know how they feed uh how they
live you know how they feed uh how they
interact with one another it's actually
interact with one another it's actually
interact with one another it's actually
quite extraordinary and every single one
quite extraordinary and every single one
quite extraordinary and every single one
of these tags has delivered Clues to how
of these tags has delivered Clues to how
of these tags has delivered Clues to how
we can better protect them how I can um
we can better protect them how I can um
we can better protect them how I can um
better see that the future Generations
better see that the future Generations
better see that the future Generations
will be able to have these encounters
will be able to have these encounters
will be able to have these encounters
like I've had with them we now know that
like I've had with them we now know that
like I've had with them we now know that
these animals make huge migrations AC
these animals make huge migrations AC
these animals make huge migrations AC
you know across the oceans they travel
you know across the oceans they travel
you know across the oceans they travel
thousands of kilometers in any direction
thousands of kilometers in any direction
thousands of kilometers in any direction
um making these massive cyclical
um making these massive cyclical
um making these massive cyclical
Journeys we we know that they travel up
Journeys we we know that they travel up
Journeys we we know that they travel up
and down Continental coastlines we know
and down Continental coastlines we know
and down Continental coastlines we know
that they they cross international
that they they cross international
that they they cross international
borders they navigate into the high seas
borders they navigate into the high seas
borders they navigate into the high seas
really hostile conditions they're
really hostile conditions they're
really hostile conditions they're
actually an incredible Ray and one of
actually an incredible Ray and one of
actually an incredible Ray and one of
the most interesting things is we saw we
the most interesting things is we saw we
the most interesting things is we saw we
thought they lived at the surface we
thought they lived at the surface we
thought they lived at the surface we
thought these were surface dwelling uh
thought these were surface dwelling uh
thought these were surface dwelling uh
animals but they're not you know one of
animals but they're not you know one of
animals but they're not you know one of
the coolest things we've learned about
the coolest things we've learned about
the coolest things we've learned about
mantis is yes they use these huge
mantis is yes they use these huge
mantis is yes they use these huge
horizontal Plains in the ocean but they
horizontal Plains in the ocean but they
horizontal Plains in the ocean but they
are also as we found out some of the
are also as we found out some of the
are also as we found out some of the
deepest diving fish in the world um they
deepest diving fish in the world um they
deepest diving fish in the world um they
they penetrate into the deep Waters of
they penetrate into the deep Waters of
they penetrate into the deep Waters of
the ocean up to an exceeding a kilometer
the ocean up to an exceeding a kilometer
the ocean up to an exceeding a kilometer
from from the surface incredible stuff
from from the surface incredible stuff
from from the surface incredible stuff
the more we learn about mantas the more
the more we learn about mantas the more
the more we learn about mantas the more
they Fascinate us unfortunately the more
they Fascinate us unfortunately the more
they Fascinate us unfortunately the more
we learn about Manas the more we realize
we learn about Manas the more we realize
we learn about Manas the more we realize
that they're in trouble now what are
that they're in trouble now what are
that they're in trouble now what are
they in trouble from us unfortunately
they in trouble from us unfortunately
they in trouble from us unfortunately
it's anthropogenic threats again um that
it's anthropogenic threats again um that
it's anthropogenic threats again um that
that will you know be their demise if we
that will you know be their demise if we
that will you know be their demise if we
don't know act soon things like uh
don't know act soon things like uh
don't know act soon things like uh
artisanal fishing in in in developing
artisanal fishing in in in developing
artisanal fishing in in in developing
countries things like directed trade
countries things like directed trade
countries things like directed trade
fishing and others uh Manta populations
fishing and others uh Manta populations
fishing and others uh Manta populations
across the the globe are are plummeting
across the the globe are are plummeting
across the the globe are are plummeting
um because people are now targeting them
um because people are now targeting them
um because people are now targeting them
in huge numbers um extracting out all of
in huge numbers um extracting out all of
in huge numbers um extracting out all of
their body parts to use in bogus Chinese
their body parts to use in bogus Chinese
their body parts to use in bogus Chinese
medicinal products yes just like our
medicinal products yes just like our
medicinal products yes just like our
rhinos here in Africa um and as a result
rhinos here in Africa um and as a result
rhinos here in Africa um and as a result
of some of this heinous Behavior
of some of this heinous Behavior
of some of this heinous Behavior
unsustainable behavior um we've had to
unsustainable behavior um we've had to
unsustainable behavior um we've had to
elevate the status the conservation
elevate the status the conservation
elevate the status the conservation
status of Manas both species late last
status of Manas both species late last
status of Manas both species late last
year on the iucn red list to vulnerable
year on the iucn red list to vulnerable
year on the iucn red list to vulnerable
to Extinction this is an animal we may
to Extinction this is an animal we may
to Extinction this is an animal we may
not see anymore if we don't do something
not see anymore if we don't do something
not see anymore if we don't do something
um and they deserve such a listing very
um and they deserve such a listing very
um and they deserve such a listing very
conservative life histories the females
conservative life histories the females
conservative life histories the females
only have have one baby every 2 to three
only have have one baby every 2 to three
only have have one baby every 2 to three
years um and and that baby is very small
years um and and that baby is very small
years um and and that baby is very small
and defenseless and may not even make
and defenseless and may not even make
and defenseless and may not even make
maturity so the the take-home message
maturity so the the take-home message
maturity so the the take-home message
here is these are not animals that can
here is these are not animals that can
here is these are not animals that can
withstand human predation they they
withstand human predation they they
withstand human predation they they
can't defend themselves from us or
can't defend themselves from us or
can't defend themselves from us or
bounce back from our pressures so I I I
bounce back from our pressures so I I I
bounce back from our pressures so I I I
want to end with a positive note which
want to end with a positive note which
want to end with a positive note which
is that there is a ray of hope you know
is that there is a ray of hope you know
is that there is a ray of hope you know
these are charismatic species people
these are charismatic species people
these are charismatic species people
identify with them divers the world over
identify with them divers the world over
identify with them divers the world over
love them uh they could be considered
love them uh they could be considered
love them uh they could be considered
easily the panda of the ocean um and we
easily the panda of the ocean um and we
easily the panda of the ocean um and we
we we have proven that they are a
we we have proven that they are a
we we have proven that they are a
lucrative draw card for tourism they can
lucrative draw card for tourism they can
lucrative draw card for tourism they can
be used sustainably um and we really
be used sustainably um and we really
be used sustainably um and we really
need to to to learn from from this
need to to to learn from from this
need to to to learn from from this
animal and I always say the plight of
animal and I always say the plight of
animal and I always say the plight of
the manay should be looked at as a
the manay should be looked at as a
the manay should be looked at as a
warning Beacon to all of those people
warning Beacon to all of those people
warning Beacon to all of those people
who still want to extract every last
who still want to extract every last
who still want to extract every last
species of megap out of our oceans we
species of megap out of our oceans we
species of megap out of our oceans we
need to remember that the world would be
need to remember that the world would be
need to remember that the world would be
a far far lesser place without iconic
a far far lesser place without iconic
a far far lesser place without iconic
marine species like these so let's do
marine species like these so let's do
marine species like these so let's do
something about it
w