(Mirror) - A group of conservation filmmakers has created an incredible project which draws attention to the plight of stunning manta rays.
The underwater film, titled ‘Mantas Last Dance’ was shot on February 2013 in Kona, Hawaii, a world leader in Manta Ray conservation.
Speaking about the project, conversation filmmakers Blue Sphere Media says : The shoot is a key element in a conservation media campaign by WildAid and Shark Savers, working together on the Manta Ray of Hope project aimed to raise serious awareness for manta rays leading up to an extremely important meeting in early March.
'The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meets every 3 years, and 177 member nations vote on whether to grant international protection to certain highly threatened and endangered species. After 3 years or incredible effort, manta rays are finally on the voting ballot. Now is the time put in place urgently needed protection.’
Talented mermaid model Hannah Fraser joins the project as a model which is photoshot by conservation and underwater photographers Shawn Heinrichs and Kristian Schmidt.
Manta rays are beautiful, intelligent, gentle and inquisitive giants of the sea. These amazing animals are long lived (up to 50 years or more), slow to reach maturity, and produce very few offspring (1 pup every 2-3 years).
But in the last decade a hunting trade has emerged in Asia for ray gill plates as a tonic medicine, even though there are no proven health benefits.
(Pics : Dailymail)
