Unveiling the Mysteries of Manta Rays with Andrea Marshall

Andrea Marshall, a marine biologist, shares her passion for manta rays, highlighting their impressive size, intelligence, and gentle nature. She discusses her journey from aspiring to study great white sharks to focusing on manta rays due to the lack of research on them. Andrea emphasizes the threats manta rays face from fishing for Asian tonics, leading to a significant population decline. She also shares her experiences living in Southern Mozambique, a key location for her research, and stresses the importance of raising awareness about manta ray conservation.

What makes manta rays appear like alien spacecraft?

• Their ability to fly

• Their large size and shape

• Their bright colors

• Their speed in the water

Why did Andrea Marshall decide to study manta rays?

• No one had studied them before

• They are found only in Africa

• They are more dangerous than sharks

• They are the largest animals in the ocean

What is unique about manta rays' interaction with humans?

• They avoid humans at all costs

• They seek out encounters with humans

• They are aggressive towards humans

• They are indifferent to human presence

What has caused the decline in manta ray populations?

• Pollution

• Habitat destruction

• Fishing for Asian tonics

• Climate change

What percentage decline has been observed in manta ray populations in Mozambique?

• 30%

• 75%

• 98%

• 50%