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By Rebecca Pilkington-Vincett
A feeding station popular with manta rays is not far from the Misool Eco Resort and Conservation Center in Raja Ampat, eastern Indonesia.
RAJA AMPAT, Indonesia —They’ve been described by one scientist as “pandas of the ocean.”
“They’re such an iconic species, beloved by divers,” said Andrea Marshall, director of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, who came up with the description during an interview with NBC News. “They’re just amazing.”
Unlikely as it might seem, the panda and the manta ray have a lot in common.
Just as scientists still haven’t been able to confirm the number of pandas in the wild, they also have no idea how many manta rays exist.
“Globally we don’t know how many manta rays there are,” said Guy Stevens, director of the U.K.-based Manta Trust, whose research is largely based around manta populations in the Maldives.
But -- again, like the panda -- scientists think it’s a small population.
“If they’re lucky, (manta rays) have two pups (over several years). That’s a very low reproductive rate, especially compared to your average fish,” said Dr. Heidi Dewar, a biologist at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, part of NOAA.
Anecdotal evidence suggests mantas are under threat, and China may be a major reason for it.
Manta rays are vulnerable on two fronts: as bycatch — getting caught in industrial fishing nets targeting different types of tuna — and, increasingly, because of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM.
Manta rays are abundant in the waters around Raja Ampat, eastern Indonesia.
Manta rays are harvested for their gill rakers, which allow the fish to filter food from water. Some Chinese believe they have healing properties or are good at cleaning out toxins. One Chinese-language website claims gill rakers enhance the immune system, promote blood circulation and aid in the treatment of cancer, skin disease and infertility.
“It’s just cartilage,” said Dewar, echoing skepticism expressed by many scientists.
Medicinal fad?
Conservationists say manta rays aren’t even considered “traditional” medicine and argue no reference to the animal can be found in TCM books dating back a century. But with rising incomes that enable Chinese consumers to readily adopt medicinal fads, the impact on manta rays has accelerated over the past 10 to 15 years.
“A lot of it is completely unrecorded,” said Stevens, who worked on a project founded by Shark Savers and WildAid to document the scope of gill-raker harvesting.
Understanding the beauty and diversity of Raja Ampat, aka 'Underwater Eden'
Researchers looked at the location, value and species involved. “It does seem the majority of all of those gills that are being traded are ending up in China,” Stevens said.
The conclusion, published in a report called Manta Ray of Hope, found that roughly 3,400 manta rays and 94,000 mobulas (related to the manta ray family) are caught each year, but the numbers reflect only reported catches. “Unreported and subsistence fisheries will mean true landings are much higher,” the report said.
On patrol with a shark ranger in Indonesia's marine treasure trove
Visits to random TCM shops in Beijing and Shanghai turned up no gill rakers. In fact, a veteran pharmacist at Tongrentang, a long-established purveyor of traditional Chinese and herbal medicines, said she had never heard of manta rays being used this way.
But the Manta Ray of Hope report estimates a mature ocean manta could yield up to 15 pounds of dried gills that can bring in as much as $230 a pound in a market in China.
Australia moves to ban fishing trawler with 900-foot-long net
Marshall said she has noticed an uptick in manta fishing. “I’ve been (in Mozambique) in the last decade … and we’ve seen an 87 percent decline in the population because of the fishing.”
Unlike many shippers, Chinese merchants who transport cheap products from the mainland for export to Africa “want to fill [their unloaded cargo vessels] with resources wherever they go. In Africa, they fill it up with wood, fish or shark’s fin,” she said. “They’ll go out to the local fisheries along the coastline and scout for these products.”
The scientist has spoken to members of local communities, who say the Chinese offer “new nets, new lines, new hooks. (The Chinese traders) say to them, ‘If you get the sharks or the mantas or the turtles, you get all the meat. You can keep all the meat. You just sell us the things you don’t normally eat.'”
Protecting a ‘threatened’ species
Mantas were listed last year as “threatened” under the international Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has classified the manta ray as “vulnerable” to extinction.
PhotoBlog: Raja Ampat archipelago: The world's last paradise
Chinese scientists have also weighed in.
“In the last two years, we have conducted evaluations of the manta ray and submitted a recommendation to the government to list it as a protected species,” said Professor Wang Yanmin from Shandong University’s Marine College.
“There is no regulation for protecting the manta ray so sales of mantas are not illegal,” said Feng Yongfeng, founder of Green Beagle, a group that promotes environmental protection.
Groups like Manta Trust are focusing on getting manta rays listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). But scientists have their work cut out for them.
“It’s very difficult to get listed on CITES. They ask for a lot of detail that is difficult to pin down,” said Marshall. “Maybe in the terrestrial world, biologists can provide those kinds of details. When you’re talking about the megafauna [or large marine species] world, it’s very difficult.”
Marshall – who discovered a second type of manta ray in 2008 and is in the process of identifying a third -- acknowledges little is known about them.
AFP - Getty Images file
A huge manta ray weighing more than 2,200 pounds and measuring nearly 9 yards in length was caught off the eastern coast of China this past September.
Manta births a mystery
Vexing questions include the manta’s life span, details of their reproductive ecology and migratory patterns.
“I could wrap my life up in 20 minutes if I could talk to them,” she joked. “It has been driving me insane for the last ten years because I haven’t been able to figure out where they give birth. It’s 2012 and nobody has ever seen a manta give birth in the wild.”
And research is painstaking. For one, concentrations of the animal tend to be around far-flung islands. Stevens of Manta Trust cited the costs of tracking mantas and the difficulty in locating and knowing how to study them.
With technological improvements, however, scientists are gaining some ground. Satellite tags are one way to help the research. “What do they do when we can’t observe them? I’d love to follow an animal to find out how they spend their time,” said Stevens. “The tagging gives you small glimpses of them.”
Two dive instructors at the Misool Eco Resort and Conservation Center in Raja Ampat have uncovered a revenue stream to offset research costs: tourism.
“One manta ray can raise $1 million (U.S. dollars) in tourism income over its lifetime,” said Rebecca Pilkington-Vincett, citing a figure contained in the Manta Ray of Hope report.
PhotoBlog: Raja Ampat archipelago: The world's last paradise
With the blessing of the resort, Pilkington-Vincett and Calvin Beale launched a research project off the surrounding reefs.
Last season, the duo raised $32,000 from donations by recreational divers who accompanied them on dives to gather DNA samples and tag the mantas.
With the money, they have bought three satellite tags and collected numerous DNA samples. They are sending off the data to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for analysis by a graduate student.
With online databases such as the Manta Research Project, where some of Pilkington-Vincett and Beale’s data are logged, or the Manta Matcher, developed by Marshall and operating much “like the FBI fingerprint online database,” research on the manta ray has become rooted in a global exchange among scientists and amateurs alike.
Until its secrets are fully revealed, the manta’s mystique seems guaranteed.
“I think it’s fascinating,” said Dewar of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, “that there is such a large and amazing creature that has so many mysteries attached to it.”
Additional research by Le Li, Johanna Armstrong and Yanzhou Liu.
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Leave a Comment:
Biggest parasite on the planet------man-------biggest parasite of man--------China----Manta's for their gill rakes, Sharks for their fins, Elephant's for their tusks, Rhino's for their horns----------Japan and their commercial whaling.
We should just flood Asia with Viagra, then all the little men will have their little problems fixed.
Antistupidity:
The article basically exonerated the Chinese as to allegation that Chinese use Manta's gill as traditional medicine or that they directly caused the over-fish the Manta in pursuit of fish parts.
Actually crackers kill by far the most animals in the world. Is it because they have the cruelty gene? maybe acting out of small schlong syndrome?
And how does it exonerate them exactly? By putting up a photo of a dead manta on a Chinese trawler?
How do you explain the sudden population decline? Ask the people in Africa who's killing the animals and selling them to China? The answer is "WE AFRICANS ARE!"
The grinding poverty and thirst for war has given the population of the continent a shortsighted culture. "I have to make money because I'm poor and I could die tomorrow". So when China comes wanting workers to harvest wildlife for their latest fad diet, they find people willing and armed to the teeth, with intimate knowlege of the area to do all the killing they want for as long as supplies last.
What do you mean crackers. You's one of those ghetto dwellers. At least you are in your mind.
mmmmm.....How many fish sticks are in a Manta?Other animals and plants are often food.Maybe Obama can sign a law to "do something" then by Leftie logic the problem is solved...and you all can be smug and content until you create another "crisis"....:o)
June_Bug . You are obviously a racist that is full of hate . Your post proves this . Its people like you that cause the problems in the USA regarding race issues . Some people just can not get a grip on what it means to be a normal human .
I'm not going to kick China just for doing what everybody else on the planet is doing, only a little more of it.
Eventually the world will have address both micro-ecological issues, such as the survival of the Manta Ray, and macro ones, such as global warming, unless we collectively choose to do as a bacteria culture in a petri dish, and simply breed ourselves to extinction, drowning in our own excrement
One would like to think that the collective intelligence of the human race exceeds that of a colony of bacteria, but the proof is in the pudding ...or in the petri dish.
Obama can only sign a law that Congress, currently the right and left, send him. I didn't see in the article that the lefties created this crisis or that it is a crisis but a situation called “threatened.” It seems like you are the one over reacting and under relating which is why we kicked the British out in the first place. If you don't like it here go back and suck on your queens t** for more stupidity.
@antistupidity You are soooo right!
Damn, looks like I've insulted all the racist honkeys. These losers don't mind racism directed at others but get their panties in a bunch and start yelling PC nonsense when crackas are the targets of some jokes.
Racist hypocrites. And yes, honkeys/crackas/peckerwoods are the ones that kill the most animals in the world. They eat them, wear them, experiment on them far more than non-honkeys.
How many other species must be put in danger for Chinese stupidity? These folks better figure out we have one earth..
June is holding on to her race card for as long as she can. Sorry honey, your time is up. Now you are and will become a productive part of society. Kiss your Obama phone goodbye soon and that welfare check is about to stop coming in the mail.
Please excuse JuneBug, she gets angry when she has to work.
You forgot to mention they also have their tender moments with them when the need rises.
Got to love the Chinese and their healing powers. Elephant and Rhino-tusks, shark fins and Manta Ray gills. Here's a clue:
Try reducing your smog and pollution output put!
"Manta rays are vulnerable on two fronts: as bycatch — getting caught in industrial fishing nets targeting different types of tuna — and, increasingly, because of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM"
What is it that the Chinese cant destroy? What?
They are killing the human populations across the globe by exporting TRILIONS of TONS of toxic goods, toxic foods to just about every F*cking place you can think of...
They are wiping out Africa's endangered species like Rhinos and Elephants....
They are wiping out the biggest Animal to ever dwell on Earth (the Blue Whale)...
They are using toxic products like Ethyl Glycol on everything from Food, to diapers, to lotions to every f*cking thing you can think of...a Chinese cheeseburger, yep, more than likely its got ethyl glycol as an ingredient...
Africa right now is on the receiving end of some of the most toxic goods ever, because their corrupt leaderships get hand-outs to let toxic goods reach the populations...there's literally no oversights in poor countries....So the diapers we found to have ethyl glycol are never destroyed, they end up in poor countries instead....
What in the name of humanity is wrong with these people? Seriously, can someone just maybe inform us why?
Every animal about to be extinct is directly linked to China, you dont even have to google it...
There is no greater evil beings than these f*ckers, that's my conclusion.
At close to f*cking TRILLION humanoids, you would think they would have a little common sense....NOPE
Congress can only write and pass laws, and POTUS can only sign laws That pertain to the US and US sovereign waters. We cant write laws for Indonesia. That is why we have The Hague, UN(yes they can be huge screwups) to write and prosecute international law and Interpol for criminal apprehension.
The easiest way to stop all this is unbiased, unminipulated, no omission of fact, and no watering down of fact, education.
I just went to the restroom and dropped a big 'ol JuneBug in the toilet , it was relaxing
"They eat them, wear them, experiment..."
haha...pretty funny coming from a idiot who it's pigs feet , sucks on neck bones , eats chicken gristle , and chitlins
we could do that all day long , but then JuneyButt needs to go moisturize her ashey spots
Dick followed by numbers - (and a very apt name for yourself)
" tender moments with them..." your personal habits are no business of ours , your wifes habits aren't either , please keep the stupidity to yourself , thanks
dman:
China and the rest of the world need a good kickin' for what they're doing to our planet.
Cry baby white people; blaming everything that goes wrong in this entire nation on their president , or affirmative action , when few of them can even spell it without looking in the dictionary first !!! "Ooooh yea-ah, glory be O' Lawd; niggars will never know what it is like to be white and victimized in a land where the gub'ment favors the poor jus coz the poor has so much more to offer!"
I have an idea; lets blame affirmative action for global warming!!! Oops, never mind, almost forgot; the omnipotent Republican Party doesn't believe in global warming.
Well...hello there hurricane Sandy! Pray tell; where did you blow in from???
(raised eyebrows and look of surprise)!
The scum and the intellectually numb; I truly wonder, where do they ALL come from! there are countries who would love to become a democracy , but yet , all republicans worry about is if the filthy rich are happy !!!! LORD , '' HELP THEM TO WAKE -UP ''
"The scum and the intellectually numb; I truly wonder, where do they ALL come from!"
hahaha...good one...but the answer is very simple...from your mom and dad , do you know who your dad is? , wouldn't want to punk on the "disadvantaged"
an ignoramous said : "all republicans worry about is if the filthy rich are happy"
note to bonehead , 8 of the top ten richest Congressmen are DEMOCRATS, no don't you feel stupid, or misinformed , or just plain ol' ignant ?
June bug..Whites may kill the most animals in the world, its called meat and seafood which is used for food. Blacks kill each other the most, it is called crime..take a look at Chicago, Detroit and Flint.
LEAVE THE CHINESE ALONE!! If you had that small of a wee wee, you'd be eating any thing you could get your hands on to make it grow too!! Funny how most of the animals they desimate are for sexual aid, and when the dumb ars's eat a soup make with bird nest's, I think its time to put them out of their misery, and ours. Nuke em
Nice devolution of commentary in 1.1 flat!
Chinese may or may not be the primary culprit in the rapidly marked decline of the species of Mantas and many other species, but there has undoubtedly been a long and relentless attack on Ocean biodiversity from Man's irresponsible commercial fisheries and destruction of habitat/pollution/ignorance/greed Worldwide for many many decades at a blistering pace. All done knowing the consequences.
Ahh, the Captains of Industry...
Just as on land, Man is clearly its own and nature's biggest and most increasingly worse enemy, with several, if not most, Nations showing little or no interest in reversing course. The Manta Ray is the unfortunate victim/example examined in this article.
Forrest/Trees
How many of you have ever been SCUBA diving? How many of you have ever been diving with Mantas? If you have not, you have missed the decline in everything living underwater which has occurred over the last 50-60+ years. It is sickening. I started diving in 1969 using a floating surface hookah rig(Brownie's Third Lung) that had just came out while we were on a family trip in Jamaica(Family from there). Beautiful and plentiful Sea life! I was hooked. I did my first tank dive a few years later using a converted fire extinguisher. Saw it when the Great Corals were plentiful EVERYWHERE within their natural ranges, and whale sharks and Giant Sunfish(Mola mola), as well as most all species, were common place, not just the ultra rare, sightings. Breeding stock is now decimated for these delicately balanced creatures. We all know what happens next.
Please try to do everything you can to persuade International Law, US Law, and ALL Governments to immediately reduce the pressure on ALL ecosystems with the reminder that killing it all now quickly is plainitively killing all of us now quickly. It is a Multiheaded Monster, without a doubt.
The End Game does not justify the Means we extract from Mother Earth. Put down your iPhones and do something. And if you say this is hopeless, stop commenting and go figure out a way to remove yourself. I hope no one is that ignorant, despite the comments which are written from some real basement dwellers, shills and trolls. If you are, you are wasting away for no reason and would be doing everyone else a great favor by getting out of the system quicker. You are no better than those Chinese this article points out/accuses as the reason for the increased decline of the Manta when it is the Sum Of Us.
Let's work at changing the equation. Do it for the kids.
Peace
cdahl said it best, and plainly. In fairness to the Chinese, their people have started to wake up and demand that pollution be reduced. In America, we had terrible areas of pollution (and still have registered targeted "clean up" sites yet to be cleaned up) - and pressure was put on industry.
At least the Chinese management that allowed melamine to be put in Chinese baby formula, killing and maiming Chinese babies (like they did our pets with exported food), were executed.
Many aren't happy unless they can possess things that are rare or extinct .
For the record, Junebug, I find such "humor" offensive regardless of what idiot is using it, or as my grand mother used to say, "It really doesn't matter what color you paint a soft head.".
Now, why don't you be a nice June Bug and go find a windshield somewhere?
Man even creates environmental disasters on purpose for profit. The gulf oil spill was a prime example of ‘Crisis Capitalism’. Create a problem then profit from the solution.
Halliburton bought the largest clean up company, Boots and Coots, right before the spill and is making a fortune in clean up profits. Hayward, the then CEO of BP, sold a third of his stock a month before the spill.
BP is using the dispersants Corexit for the "clean up", despite it being loaded with poisons like mercury, cadmium and cyanide. All it does is poison the waters and force the oil to the bottom of the ocean. Corexit is still being sprayed at night despite the EPA demanding that BP cease using it.
Our government is depopulating the gulf region and moving people out. The ultimate goal is to make that region the largest oil refinery in the country, without the environmental interferences of humans.
Always, follow the money.
"create a problem" ...hahaha...that's the stupidest drivle I have heard in quite awhile...in fact the entire post is ludicrous and "young"
Man is really going to be sorry for what they have done to our planet that we SHARE with the animals and I mean soon enough. And yes, the Chinese and much of Asia need for much foo foo dust remedies is too much to handle. To me they desecrate the earth with endless stupid ideas. Rhino horns, bear panceas/bile and so on! Despicable
Worthless chinese. Why don't they just FAKE the cartilage like they fake all their crap they sell to Big Business everywhere, then they wouldn't have to bother killing helpless animals. Man. I'm really starting to hate those smarmy little creeps. WHOSE idea was it to ship all our manufacturing over there? Oh yeah.... I remember. Republicans, starting with the #1 dirtbag of them all, Tricky Dick.
With good ole Henry K at his side brokering 'trade'...and it began.
John Athondoe:
Unfortunately, it's uneducated people such as yourself which allows the continual, destructive profiteering off the backs of the people, the animals and the environment to operate undeterred.
Do the world a favor by doing your homework before proclaiming something you obviously know nothing about, stupid.
The news article said there is no Manta gills found in traditional medicine stores.
Despite that, bloggers have gone off on a tangent attacking and hating the Chinese for everything. Whatever is the merit of the news article, it certainly brought out an unacceptable number of Americans voicing hate against the Chinese. Evidently, Racism is alived and well in Good Ole USA. Apparently, either the American hate propaganda machine is working too well or too many Americans are looking for an scape-goat, China, as the cause of their troubles.
Just change Chinese to Jews or Black Africans and hear how all these hate comments sound like.
You should add to your name "but assumes much." Considering your post referencing mine assumed much more than I posted. Did you see in my post we make laws for Indonesia? I only posted our method of making laws. Stupidity is assuming, stick to the facts!
WallStFatCat:
They may not have found the Manta gills in Chinese traditional medicine stores, but it's obvious the Chinese are encouraging the harvesting and killing of Manta's, sharks and turtles in Africa by providing the necessary equipment to the fisherman so everything but the meat can be transported back to China and sold for a profit.
@ Dick-2100935
My apologies, I misread your statement.
Debi followed by numbers
"Do the world a favor by doing your homework before proclaiming something you obviously know nothing about, stupid."
calling people names is your "backup"?...hahaha...post proof of your statement , that's right ,none exists except under your tin foil hat
oh ...aren't liberals like yourself against getting into other countries business? , yes , I think you are , that is usually refered to as hypocrisy
John Athondoe:
My statement could have been read two ways. It's obvious you chose the low road. But if the shoe fits, you may wear it.
Label me however you like, but I will always speak for those without a voice.
Debi:
Following your logic, America is also guilty of killing endangered Mantas by offering the nations of these Africans fishermen the foreign aid and technical assistance. Of course, that is nonsense as the action is too remote and unforeseeable. The seller of guns is no more responsible for murder than the Chinese's selling fishnet is responsible for African's capturing Mantas.
All the bloggers have failed to read or care to notice the article said the several traditional medicine stores have no interest in Manta gills. There is no evidence that the Chinese are using Manta gills as traditional medicine and hence, the notion that the Chinese are over fishing the Manta, directly or indirectly, for its gill is unsupported by evidence. Readers ignored the facts as written in the article, and pounced on the Chinese anyway.
Inadvertently, this article has exposed or revealed America's anti-Chinese sentiment, Yellow Peril hysteria, and racial prejudice out in the open.
A two year Worldwide ban on Commercail longline and trawler net fishing would solve much of the world's fishery problems if after the two years much greater restrictions, if not bans, on those methods of fishing were enforced.
Impossible, right?
That is like saying all Elephant and other Endangered Animal poachers should be executed upon conviction.
A person can dream, right?
Apologies accepted and rank yourself higher than most who post here.
WallStFatCat:
If the Chinese have no interest in the harvesting and sale of everything but the meat of mantas, sharks and turtles, why are they purchasing the by-products and providing fishing equipment, which is direct assistance? Nothing "remote" about it.
FR Sent, Dick! Great to see the proper spirit on the Vine and NBC posts alive and well.
Peace
which animals don't have voices?...that's terrible , all anim als should have voices , and cars , and jobs, and weekends off , 2 months vacation , and sandals , and boxer shorts...Dr. Doolittle ain't got nuttin' on you
This is a piece of garbage journalism.
The writers accuses the Chinese's using of the Manta's gills as traditional medicine as the cause for endangering the Manta's population. In the next paragraph, the writer admits several major Chinese traditional medicine stores do not stock or consider such gills as traditional medicine. The writer gives another false impression that the Chinese are over- fishing the Manta for gills. Again, in the following paragraph, the writer reveals that the Chinese are buying fish-parts that local fishermen are discarding, including bones of the Manta, as part of their passive buying habit during the return voyage.
Why even bother bringing up these allegations when there is no support for them? Is this just a strawman argument to fill-up the pages or a preemptive strike against future accusation?
what an idiot.
I've lived in China for three years. The majority of these people have absolutely no respect for animals except for the animals in their Zoos such as Pandas, Lions, Tigers, etc. Should you ever come into any Province here, you'll see only a handful of birds, mostly Sparrows due to the fact that they eat them, along with cats, dogs, snakes, crocodiles, spiders, and the list goes on. I've had a lot of traditional medicine just to see if it's all what it's cracked up to be over here and I can say that absolutely none of these medicines help except maybe for tea, and that's questionable. They live in this five thousand year old tradition and will absolutely not join the twenty first century as far as modern medicine and facts are concerned.
And they are backwards?......look in the mirror much?
Chinese and Japanese have ZERO regard for endangered animals and will eat ANY animal, especially if there is profit potential. They made the Chinese dolphin extinct and would love to hunt more blue whales. In fact, there is a Japanese cannibal who was extradited from Europe and is a local celebrity in Japan. And it's not enough that China owns U.S. debts and 99% of U.S. products, they want to profit on bushmeat.
Hank491 your point is absolutely correct.
I think the point you may be missing is that the gills are not a traditional medicine, which the author made very clear, and are not listed in the books in traditional medicine books from a hundred years back, or are even carried in traditional medicine shops but this has become a "FAD" over the last fifteen years or so which maybe leading to the declining populations. Maybe you browse articles until your believes are supported, I don't know but a little reading comprehension 101 may have helped to keep the blood pressure down a bit this morning.
The scientists admit they don't even know how many they are. Maybe some animals become extinct because of God's design!
Yes Lex you are right. Those Manta's are destroying the planet. Maybe God should have designed a few less Asians.
Well, they do mention manta gills bring $230 a pound on the Chinese market. And that is a picture of a Chinese boat in the background. China needs to educate its public toward science and away from superstition. When you belive in things that you don't understand, then you suffer.
There is a serious issue of the Chinese attitude toward animals being less than humane. Keeping bears alive with tubes implanted in their gall bladders, to "milk" that gall for medicines, for example (Viet Nam too). And to this day I cannot wear fur, after seeing a documentary on how the Chinese were using dog and cat fur, passing it off as "coyote" hood trim, to Americans buying jackets. When the worker cut the leg artery of a German Shepherd dog - this caused less damage to the fur, who was still wagging his tail to the humans - well, I tear up every time I remember it.
Never going to happen, if the general populace is not educated, and superstitious, they are much easier to control.
It is incredible that with all our advance technology, how much we know about land animals, even about space, we still know so little about the animals and life in the oceans. We really need to shift some of our priorities to appreciate the life forms and resources on this planet.To preserve what we have and help our children as well, learn to be wise stewards over this precious place we call home.
This amazing species is the perfect example, that such a large species has lived in the ocean, and a specimen like that picture shows, up to 27 feet long and over a ton, yet we know practically nothing about life cycling nor breeding habits.Thankfully there are those who devote their lives and others resources to helping the rest of us learn.
"Iconic" ? Do these writers know the English language? Manta rays are clearly not "iconic". I'm getting sick of the repeated distortion of the language -- there are other words that can be used, however, reporters like the "pop" stuff that makes no linguistic sense.
Gil , most of "these writers" are liberals , so they are "critical thinkers"
For those who don't understand my comment: the headline has been changed from "Iconic manta rays ....."
Found another for ya, Gil!
Iconic street foods every world traveler must try
I don't like "viral" either. Another junk word.
Gil-2872519
Doesn't like the word's dictionary, thesaurus, or encyclopedia either, they are "gateway" words. You know what happens if you use "gateway" words..................it leads to the use of bigger more intellectual words and eventually could lead to a terrible affliction called intelligence.
yeah. damn words. HULK SMASH!!!!
whoops i just broke my keyboard.
@joe420er
roflmao
you two are killing me!!
roflmaobmgsmkhmhotct (busted my gut, slapped my knee, hit my head on the coffe table)
Peace, and Thanks!!
:-))
There was only "anecdotal evidence" that the Chinese were making the Rhino extinct and guess what folks, it was true. The lax laws in China allow them to sell stuff like this under the guise of traditional Chinese Medicine even though there isn;t any historical evidence in this case. The folks here defending China seem not to be aware of the Chinese Black Market. While the Chinese may not kill the Manta, they buy the gills and create the market for others to kill them. Just like Rhino horns have killed off Rhinos, the Manta's gills may be the end of them.
"Biggest parasite on the planet------man---" No doubt.
I'm not keeping you here...you and your relatives can "leave" anytime you choose.......:o)
MSNBC many have be a little weak on some of their reporting but the facts that we read over and over are that we humans are trashing this earth that we live on. How? Well, to make money and/or food
. take out the rainforests and grow cash crops - too bad about the animals who lived in there - including humans)
. fish the oceans bare - for food, 'traditional medicine', for male-enhancing treatments (??)
. poison the waters with our chemicals and waste - the list goes on and on...and WE're doing it!!
Oh, then how about building all the homes close to the oceans/bays for the 'nice view'.... the ocean level rises, we have storms and OOPS - billions of dollars in property have been washed away (but lots of trash left). and how about the money - much from the GOVERNMENT - it'll take to clean up/ fix temporarily so people can do it all over again???
No, if we were created to have dominion over it 'all' - we're kinda screwing up that job...
Leave it to "stupid humans" to continue wiping out entire species! Eventually... ourselves.
"But the Manta Ray of Hope report estimates a mature ocean manta could yield up to 15 pounds of dried gills that can bring in as much as $230 a pound in a market in China." Any animal that will bring over $3,000 is doomed for extinction!
Man will exhaust this planet of all its resources and then, and only then, see the error of his ways. Sadly, that will be to late for the planet. Greed is killing this planet literally.
How many species of life were there that became extinct before man walked the planet? What was one of the major causes of those extinctions? Climate change/global warming/global cooling.
Now, anecdotal evidence is suddenly significant. When the anecdotal evidence doesn't fit an agenda, it has little credence. It's not scientific, don't you know?
But when it does fit the agenda, it becomes gospel.
As we educate and evolve, we should also have a duty to be more responsible. This is what is so easily pushed aside by foolish neo-cons much as yourself. You cannot justify ignoring what you see by sayoing "it was always that way". The problem is that while you survive physically or even economically by your illogic, when we experience bioligical failure whether at the top or the bottom, we place our own species at risk. This is the huge error to your skewed logic. And your grandkids may pay the price of poor character and lack of integrity on your part. You are equal to the old Soviet who wants to push the button. So look upon the earth as your custodial duty. And read about the reality of when bio-systems fail. Yes we are broke and cannot finance the 'save the planet" initiatives. However, if we don't change the illogic of "for-profit" systems over communal systems, we lose regardless.
To the Chinese, it is time to put the old ways aside and realize that with much power comes greater responsibility. Do so or make the mistakes we made, or perish by those who can resolve the problem with might. And we are there, by the way. So responsibly see all sides, and do what is right. Lead. Don't embark on 30 yrs of taking the cheap way out (ala Reaganism), and fail.
Look up carrying capacity for Earth, TIS. Plenty of lead rime, not a new idea/subject, no matter how often ignored to Existence or Profit's End.
We, Man, have ruined the equation parameters. Keep tossing off non sequitur nonsense.
Manta rays are harvested for their gill rakers, which allow the fish to filter food from water. Some Chinese believe they have healing properties or are good at cleaning out toxins. One Chinese-language website claims gill rakers enhance the immune system, promote blood circulation and aid in the treatment of cancer, skin disease and infertility.
The Chinese rape the planet of all natural resources and mostly for outdated BS that only idiots would believe . From Rhino to giant clams . Then they go to poor countries and strip them for all of their minerals .
Imagine if we had stepped in a long time ago and initiated protocols in Africa, in long line fishing, etc. If those initiatives were enforced before China became an economic powerhouse, the world would be shaped differently on all fronts. We would have also grown beyond selfish greed in the process, and would only seek out action that had long term interests at heart. Right now we are behind, we cannot control the seas, and are about to lose out on many markets. Simply the Chinese do "it" better than we do, whatever one decides "it" is. We forgot to lead. And now our underbellies fully exposed (Iraq, one example), no one worries too much about what we're going to do to rectify any situation.
By the way, if you read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", you'll see that we too exploit the poor, or cheap resources. The Chinese are just flagrant about it.
warprofiteer.....I am glad you acknowledged our own guilt in the situation. Most people are just pointing racist fingers instead of leading through action. If we want to change things we can stop buying cheap Chinese goods until they change certain practices. We are the number one consumers on the planet by far and can dictate ethical practices through our purchasing power.
Hmm 330 million Americans verses the 1 billion+ chinese.
How much damage can one society do verses the other?
One Billion hungry people just starting a massive industrial revolution and a one child policy slanted toward boys.
Get ready for a huge surge in kidnappings of girls and women OR WAR.
Want proof?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16063607
Hu Jintao tells China navy: Prepare for warfare
What you need to know is very simple China is hungry, horny and now gearing up for war.
Such a threat. But Not so fast.
From your article(notice the date of 12/7/2011, Pearl Harbor Day):
About all you need to know. We are beyond being take over or surpassed by ANY other International/National threat by sea. Or Air, or Land. We are the biggest threat against ourselves through ignorance of the interwokings of Governments with ours own. Including China. The China Carrier is a Russian retrofit reject.
They do continue to outpace us in education and energy use though. English is becoming their second language fast. And we got our hands dirty to extablish Iraq as a major source for their Oil Operations/acquisition, while of course the usuall suspects get a big chunk of change brokering it using OUR military force. That is what we should be looking at but don't.
China Outbids Oil Majors in Iraq - TheStreet
English Speaking Population in India and China
PolitiFact | Jon Huntsman says more English speakers in China than US soon.
The next 25 years will be interesting, tosay the least...
no kidding. america spends over 700 billion in military spending annually. china? a little over 100 billion annually. and get this. america tops the world in military spending. who's in second place? china.
Hey...lets do what we always do....talk the subject to death and point fingers until there isn't any point and the Mantas are history...seems to be the best thing we do.
I know the Chinese are very protective of their panda's. Maybe it's time the West creates an appetite for panda steaks and stew.
There's a Panda Express at the mall.
Eating them worsens the situation, however China does not sell or relinquish ownership of Panda's world wide. If only we could get the world together to "take ownership" of all the Panda's worldwide and hold them "hostage" until China treats all animals with the same respect and reverence they do for the mighty Panda.
As warprofiteer stated earlier we must also take responsibility for, and clean our own house.
According to Revelation 4:6 there is a transparent sea in heaven before God's throne, and horses in heaven are mentioned in Revelation 19:14. Psalm 104:29-30 says that animals have souls. People who have had a near death experience, where they were clinically dead before resuscitation, have often reported seeing their dead pets in an animal heaven. Animals, unlike humans and Satan's fallen angels or demons (Revelation 12:1-9), are in a state of innocence, ignorant of the existence of the Holy Trinity in this earthly life.
China IS responsible for the slaughter of several endangered species. A recent National Geographic issue had an investigative story on elephant tusks with the Philippines and China as the largest illegal importers of ivory. Rhinos, tigers, black bears, gorillas, seahorses, Asian alligators, and more are killed for body parts to treat impotence! (We should ship them Viagra, Playboy and maybe some "How to..." books if they can't seem to function.) Who can make them change 28 centuries of myths? Some of these species are indigenous to China and they are still killing them off with total disregard. They need to change that before there are no more of these "miracle" body parts to treat their inadequacies. They are also killing non-endangered species like humans and pets with contaminated infant formula, pet food, dry wall, toys and more.
Blame China for the destruction of the world as you stand in line at Walmart buying all your cheap Chinese goods, then drive home by yourself on a highway full of people in cars by themselves, so you can fill your house with crap you don't need. You rape the planet just as much as the Chinese, so stop pointing racist fingers and do something to help.
That's why I try to avoid Chinamart at all times.
That is not rascist, but factual in Nature. The US is not much better, but better. Does that make me rascist or blind to reality?
Why do you think the African Poachers sell their wares most often to and traceablely found in China? Highest demand and price is why.
An f'ed up World for certain.
Ahhhh the human race.... so frickin' dumb! All life is precious and you don't need to kill anything for something as stupid as this!
We dont have to worry about a nuke killing this planet...we are killing oursevles everyday by screwing with our own resources...???? what will we do when we have over fished over killed any animal or cut down every tree for malls.and continue to keep building...yep man would be next....how about less babies...how about we control ourselves....and let things start to balance out....
Free abortions would be a good start.
Sorry, Paul. Collectively, we are far too stupid to "engineer" that sort of solution...................................
That's why the collectively smart ones need to rise above, and come up with a solution that preserves our resources and environment while still allowing liberty and human progress.
To kj-3627676: "That's why the collectively smart ones need to rise above, and come up with a solution that preserves our resources and environment while still allowing liberty and human progress."
Hello!?! They are called the NWO(New World Order). But they leave the "preserves our resources and environment while still allowing liberty and human progress" part out.
In conspiracy theory, the term New World Order or NWO refers to the emergence of a totalitarian one-world government.[2][3][4][5][6]
The common theme in conspiracy theories about a New World Order is that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government—which replaces sovereign nation-states—and an all-encompassingpropaganda that ideologizes its establishment as the culmination of history's progress. Significant occurrences in politics and finance are speculated to be orchestrated by an unduly influential cabal operating through many front organizations. Numerous historical and current events are seen as steps in an on-going plot to achieve world domination through secret political gatherings and decision-making processes.
from (conspiracy_theory)
I'm just saying, that's all.
Well, it seems as though you are quite knowledgeable on this conspiracy theory. However, I would prefer a more libertarian government. That's where the liberty and human progress part comes in. Too many environmental groups wish to go to extremes and unnecessarily remove many of our economic and political freedoms to protect "the greater good". I feel that there should be a balance, with an emphasis placed on human rights and free market, but with just enough regulation to ensure that corporations will innovate products that protect the environment instead of damage it.
Howard Kauffman what is your point? Try and put something useful on here.
the point is clear which is what is more valuable to the human race :
an out of control population with no respect to the environment and regards for animal kind or a small species of rare giant and docile animals?
Yet, another example on just how stupid the human race truly is...
actually humans are not the problem it is people that masquerade as humans and expect all the rights and privileges humans are entitled to.
I have a feeling your house is filled with cheap goods from China. I wonder how righteous you are when your standing in line at Walmart buying all your Christmas presents. I hope that Xbox is worth a few mantas. Probably easier to just point the finger at everyone else.
He is probably not referring to all of China. Just the ones who benefit from the unnecessary killing of these animals.
i would feel very good if and when "AMRERICA" can make those cheap goods for Walmarts all over the world.
the only traditional medicine that is good for all chineses is arsenic. it can cure all their ailments -permanently.
JuneBug,
how do you bring race into this topic?
Another species threatened by Asia's warped appetite for medicine or food, or whatever. Man will always be the biggest threat to the beauty of this planet and it won't stop until we are extinct or have finished ravaging the world and find somewhere else to plunder.
I still think the Nips are the worst offenders, murdering dolphins because they eat fish, and kill and slaughter the whales, in the name of science which is a blatant lie. It's because they eat them. They call the Sea Shepherd Society a terrorist organization and have labelled the Canadian founder some kind of war criminal, because he's trying to save the whales.
What sort of person could do such things. They're the closest things to us on the planet. They have the same size neocortex to mass as we do. They've got big brains. They have carried shipwrecked men to shore as early as recorded history. They're smart, aware beings. one has never been caught on a fishing line. They are in many ways smarter than us. It's murder, pure and simple. It's never bothered the Japanese before, why should it now?
While I totally agree with your premise, saying "Nips" is a racially charged negative term which detracts from your message.
I do believe we are killing wolves now for the equivalent reason on land, gs. Do the governors of those states have a secret 'nip' family history?
I am all about removing from the equation those that do kill these dolphin and whales and then feed them to dogs. I do have an extreme animosity against all those irresponsibly destroying life, but do not limit that to Japanese or Chinese, but include all offenders.
We are dicking ourselves as a Species ultimately, all the while witnessing destruction of all the 'less than Man' Species as we work our way up to ourselves. Disgusting approach to sustaining life for all Creatures.
Somehow citizens of a nation that can't control its appetite for spending and material goods sound so noble when bashing the Chinese or saving some creature whose endangered status is totally unknown (I notice that those poor, cute and cuddly polar bears aren't getting much press lately -- they're doing okay?). I feel so fortunate to live amongst such a prudent and unbiased populace.
By all means, move to China and be with your own kind.
...case in point.
Chinese are a bunch of worthless idiots. This is not a matter of opinion. Wake up!!!
Amen! So stupid that it's a miracle that they can find their way out of bed in the morning in order to manufacture most of what us geniuses use on a daily basis. They're so freaking dumb.
I fully support the ecological endeavours of those who wish to protect the environment. We need our political leaders to do the same, and put in legislation that protects our world from those who want use it as a garbage dump. Or worse, a toxic waste dump.