Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has been succeeding in keeping the Manta Ray in captivity for the first case in the world since November, 1988.
On June 8, 2006, finally we observed the mating behavior and copulation, and video recorded such activities for 5 minutes.

*Date and time

Copulation from 19:10 to 19:15 on Thursday, June 8, 2006

*Place

Kuroshio tank of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

*Male ID

No. 6, about 3.5m in width, (raised since May, 1992)

*Female ID

No. 10, about 4.2m in width, （raised since August, 1998）

This is not only a celebration for the first case in the world, but also a splendid achievement to clarify the activities and biology (including sexual mature sizes) of Manta Rays, which is still cloaked in mystery. In addition, if they succeeded in fertilization, we can look forward to welcoming the new birth next year!

{Biology of Manta Rays}
The largest species among rays, and distributed in warm-tropic oceans world wide. Grow up to 6.7m in width by eating only planktons.

{About Breeding}
Manta Rays bear babies (known as vivipary), not eggs. At a birth, they are thought to have 1 or 2 babies, which are about 1.1 to 1.3m in body width.