Feeding Frenzy: Manta Rays in the Maldives | National Geographic

[Music]

[Music] my name is tompa Jacque and I’m the

my name is tompa Jacque and I’m the

my name is tompa Jacque and I’m the chief photographer for the save our seas

chief photographer for the save our seas

chief photographer for the save our seas foundation I recently photographed a

foundation I recently photographed a

foundation I recently photographed a story for National Geographic magazine

story for National Geographic magazine

story for National Geographic magazine on manta rays

on manta rays

on manta rays I traveled halfway across the world to

I traveled halfway across the world to

I traveled halfway across the world to the Maldives a group of islands situated

the Maldives a group of islands situated

the Maldives a group of islands situated 400 miles south of India

my final destination was honey for a

my final destination was honey for a small uninhabited island in the remote

small uninhabited island in the remote

small uninhabited island in the remote northern part on the site of the world’s

northern part on the site of the world’s

northern part on the site of the world’s largest major a feeding education the

largest major a feeding education the

largest major a feeding education the key to success was to reach the island

key to success was to reach the island

key to success was to reach the island from the southwest monsoon was blowing

from the southwest monsoon was blowing

from the southwest monsoon was blowing at its peak this is when the surrounding

at its peak this is when the surrounding

at its peak this is when the surrounding seas become the most productive in the

seas become the most productive in the

seas become the most productive in the Maldives and up world nutrients and

Maldives and up world nutrients and

Maldives and up world nutrients and Sunnat explode into a rich phytoplankton

Sunnat explode into a rich phytoplankton

Sunnat explode into a rich phytoplankton soup despite their enormous size manta

soup despite their enormous size manta

soup despite their enormous size manta rays are filter feeders that prey

rays are filter feeders that prey

rays are filter feeders that prey exclusively on small Clack tonic animals

exclusively on small Clack tonic animals

exclusively on small Clack tonic animals currents and tides wash swarms of krill

currents and tides wash swarms of krill

currents and tides wash swarms of krill into hanifaru bay setting the stage for

into hanifaru bay setting the stage for

into hanifaru bay setting the stage for a feast that attracts giants from all

a feast that attracts giants from all

a feast that attracts giants from all corners of the Maltese at any one time

corners of the Maltese at any one time

corners of the Maltese at any one time up to 200 manta rays and half a dozen

up to 200 manta rays and half a dozen

up to 200 manta rays and half a dozen whale sharks feast together on

whale sharks feast together on

whale sharks feast together on zooplankton in area smaller than a

zooplankton in area smaller than a

zooplankton in area smaller than a football field

photographing his feeding frenzy was an

photographing his feeding frenzy was an incredible experience and the sheer

incredible experience and the sheer

incredible experience and the sheer number of rains around me was simply

number of rains around me was simply

number of rains around me was simply overwhelming with mantle wings tails and

overwhelming with mantle wings tails and

overwhelming with mantle wings tails and cephalic lobes enveloping me from all

cephalic lobes enveloping me from all

cephalic lobes enveloping me from all sides I was able to photograph new manta

sides I was able to photograph new manta

sides I was able to photograph new manta ray behaviors that were only recently

ray behaviors that were only recently

ray behaviors that were only recently discovered by guy Stevens a marine

discovered by guy Stevens a marine

discovered by guy Stevens a marine biologist funded by the save our seas

biologist funded by the save our seas

biologist funded by the save our seas foundation who discovered honey Faro and

foundation who discovered honey Faro and

foundation who discovered honey Faro and now studies this site

Cyclone feeding is without doubt the

Cyclone feeding is without doubt the most dramatic of all manta ray behaviors

most dramatic of all manta ray behaviors

most dramatic of all manta ray behaviors it occurs when a train of manta rays

it occurs when a train of manta rays

it occurs when a train of manta rays exceeds 50 animals and the tail end

exceeds 50 animals and the tail end

exceeds 50 animals and the tail end links up with the head resulting in a

links up with the head resulting in a

links up with the head resulting in a spiraling twisting wart ex of manta rays

spiraling twisting wart ex of manta rays

spiraling twisting wart ex of manta rays however this expertly choreographed ray

however this expertly choreographed ray

however this expertly choreographed ray ballet can quickly turn into the

ballet can quickly turn into the

ballet can quickly turn into the ultimate Manta train wreck with hundreds

ultimate Manta train wreck with hundreds

ultimate Manta train wreck with hundreds of manta rays crashing into each other

of manta rays crashing into each other

of manta rays crashing into each other left right and center now getting right

left right and center now getting right

left right and center now getting right into the middle of a chaos feeding group

into the middle of a chaos feeding group

into the middle of a chaos feeding group was probably the most dangerous part of

was probably the most dangerous part of

was probably the most dangerous part of this assignment

this assignment

this assignment now mantas are Placid non aggressive

now mantas are Placid non aggressive

now mantas are Placid non aggressive creatures but in this context they seem

creatures but in this context they seem

creatures but in this context they seem to temporarily lose all sense of

to temporarily lose all sense of

to temporarily lose all sense of coordination more than once I thought I

coordination more than once I thought I

coordination more than once I thought I was going to be knocked unconscious by

was going to be knocked unconscious by

was going to be knocked unconscious by one of these one-time Giants but much

one of these one-time Giants but much

one of these one-time Giants but much too the mantas credit I only had one

too the mantas credit I only had one

too the mantas credit I only had one minor collision and a few nervousness

despite having only been recently

despite having only been recently discovered honey Faro and it’s mantas

discovered honey Faro and it’s mantas

discovered honey Faro and it’s mantas are already under threat tourist boats

are already under threat tourist boats

are already under threat tourist boats and too many divers and snorkelers can

and too many divers and snorkelers can

and too many divers and snorkelers can disrupt the feeding activities and in

disrupt the feeding activities and in

disrupt the feeding activities and in the long run possibly even displace the

the long run possibly even displace the

the long run possibly even displace the mantas and whale sharks from this

mantas and whale sharks from this

mantas and whale sharks from this important foraging ground of course

important foraging ground of course

important foraging ground of course tourism is a much better alternative to

tourism is a much better alternative to

tourism is a much better alternative to killing manta rays for the gill rakers

killing manta rays for the gill rakers

killing manta rays for the gill rakers and fins as they have a slow

and fins as they have a slow

and fins as they have a slow reproductive rate and are very

reproductive rate and are very

reproductive rate and are very vulnerable to overfishing and extinction

vulnerable to overfishing and extinction

vulnerable to overfishing and extinction so if managed correctly anaphoras

so if managed correctly anaphoras

so if managed correctly anaphoras newfound popularity with international

newfound popularity with international

newfound popularity with international visitors could give mantas long-term

visitors could give mantas long-term

visitors could give mantas long-term protection by providing a strong

protection by providing a strong

protection by providing a strong economic incentive to conserve rather

economic incentive to conserve rather

economic incentive to conserve rather than to hunt them much to my delight on

than to hunt them much to my delight on

than to hunt them much to my delight on June 8th 2009 World Oceans Day the

June 8th 2009 World Oceans Day the

June 8th 2009 World Oceans Day the Environment Minister of the Maldives

Environment Minister of the Maldives

Environment Minister of the Maldives Mohammed Aslam announced that Hani Farah

Mohammed Aslam announced that Hani Farah

Mohammed Aslam announced that Hani Farah would become a marine protected area

would become a marine protected area

would become a marine protected area with fishing and boating restricted and

with fishing and boating restricted and

with fishing and boating restricted and diving and snorkeling subject to strict

diving and snorkeling subject to strict

diving and snorkeling subject to strict controls I am really thrilled that the

controls I am really thrilled that the

controls I am really thrilled that the Maldivian government has had the

Maldivian government has had the

Maldivian government has had the foresight to recognize the importance of

foresight to recognize the importance of

foresight to recognize the importance of this unique site I’m also very excited

this unique site I’m also very excited

this unique site I’m also very excited by the recent news that the save our

by the recent news that the save our

by the recent news that the save our seas foundation will be donating a

seas foundation will be donating a

seas foundation will be donating a patrol boat to police the Marine Reserve

it is my sincere hope that honey fall

it is my sincere hope that honey fall will always remain a sanctuary for these

will always remain a sanctuary for these

will always remain a sanctuary for these cyclone feeding manta rays and whale

cyclone feeding manta rays and whale

cyclone feeding manta rays and whale sharks and be a place where people from

sharks and be a place where people from

sharks and be a place where people from all over the world come to experience

all over the world come to experience

all over the world come to experience and gain an appreciation for these

and gain an appreciation for these

and gain an appreciation for these majestic rays I just hope that they will

majestic rays I just hope that they will

majestic rays I just hope that they will tread lightly and that bah at all will

tread lightly and that bah at all will

tread lightly and that bah at all will become a world leader in sustainable

become a world leader in sustainable

become a world leader in sustainable marine wildlife tourism