Witness the awe-inspiring birth of a giant manta ray, captured live on television and captivating an entire nation. The 6ft baby gracefully emerges from her mother’s body, unfurling her impressive fins as she begins to explore her surroundings. Despite initial concerns, the relief of seeing her swim brings joy to all involved.
This extraordinary event took place at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan’s southernmost prefecture. After a pregnancy lasting over a year, the 4.2-meter mother ray mated with a male manta also housed at the aquarium, resulting in this remarkable birth.
Caring for this newborn presents unique challenges, as scientific knowledge about manta ray development is limited. Aquarium workers must rely on their intuition to ensure the little one receives the nourishment and care she needs.
Think you misread? You didn’t. The size of this baby alone is astonishing, measuring at 6ft in length. Fully grown mantas typically reach 12ft from tip to tip and live up to 25 years. Little is known about where newborn mantas are born, making this captive birth all the more extraordinary.
The video’s down…any chance of a new one?