The magnificent ‘black manta’ of Nusa Penida! Here’s a compilation of some incredible encounters with these melanistic Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi) at the famous Manta Point. A truly healthy ecosystem isn’t just about the number of different species, but also about the genetic diversity within them. These stunning black mantas are a perfect example. They are the same species as their classic chevron-patterned relatives, but they have a natural genetic trait called melanism which gives them t

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In July, a giant manta ray, an endangered species, was legally captured off Panama City Beach, Florida, and shipped off for an aquarium in Abu Dhabi. The catch was permitted under a “marine special activity license” issued by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a rarely used loophole that allows contractors to take federally protected species for “educational” or “scientific” purposes. In reality, this permit was stretched to justify supplying a foreign theme park, an act