“We are outfitting this animal with two tags to gather finer-scale data on immediate post-release behavior and acquire some longer-term migration data. “We are thrilled to tag and track our sixth manta ray in partnership with Atlantis,” said Mote Senior Scientist Hueter. ![]() ![]() The public can search for Leyley and view her migration patterns in near-real-time by visiting: This data will be valuable not only to Atlantis in their care for mantas, but to many aquariums, marine researchers and educators, as they work in tandem to learn more about this one-of-a-kind, mysterious giant of the marine world. The transfer took 105 seconds, from lift-off to the ocean.Īs part of its multi-year research efforts in tagging manta rays, Mote will track Leyley’s journey and the depths and temperatures she encounters, to help understand the migratory behavior and survival of released mantas. Once she was comfortably settled, the helicopter raised the net on a hydraulically welded frame to ensure her maximum safety and comfort. Soon after, Leyley was transferred using a hand-woven net stretched across a custom-engineered frame designed to withstand the weight of a manta, the largest known species of ray. Robert Hueter, Senior Scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. with a comprehensive medical examination, including blood sampling by the resort’s veterinarian and the installation of a satellite tag by Dr. Leyley’s transfer marks the 13th manta ray release for the resort, whose marine husbandry practices and research have contributed greatly to data collection of the species. ![]() On June 14 at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas, one of only two aquariums in the Western Hemisphere to presently care for and study the manta ray, a marine scientist and a team of 20 marine aquarists successfully completed the transfer of a 700-plus pound manta nicknamed “Leyley” with an 11.4-foot wingspan from the resort’s 2.7-million gallon marine habitat back into the Atlantic Ocean, as part of their renowned release and research program. Credit: BVS Bahamas for Atlantis, Paradise Island Manta ray Leyley is prepared for tagging and release.
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