Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has been succeeding in keeping the Manta Rays (Manta birostris) for the first case in the world since November, 1988. On June 16, 2007 finally we observed the birth.

Date and time:Saturday June 16, 2007, 10:25 PM
Place:Kuroshio tank of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Baby:a female, about 1.9 m in width
Father ID:No.6, about 3.5m in width, kept since May, 1992
Mother ID:No.10, about 4.2m in width, kept since August, 1998

A baby Manta ray was born after a gestation period of 374 days, and moved A baby manta was moved to sea pen for feeding. This is not only a celebration for the first case in the world, but also splendid achievement to clarify the biology of Manta Rays, which are still cloaked in mystery.

[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 small fishes and planktons.