An Instagram post by the Aquarium Foundation of Palma de Mallorca has caught our attention: since May, five rays have been stranded in the Balearic Islands; a further 20 locations in the Mediterranean have been documented, it says. What to do if you see a manta ray swimming close to shore or find a stranded animal.
There have been increasing numbers of stranded manta rays found on various beaches along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. For example, the Mallorca Zeitung (MZ) reported on June 16 that a minor was injured in Mallorca the previous day when he tried to touch a ray on the beach. The MZ quotes the online portal Crónica Balear: according to the report, the animal stung the child, causing a deep cut on his arm. The sea creature was identified as a pelagic stingray, sighted at around 3:30 p.m. near the beach at Punta Ballena, on the beach of the British party hotspot Magaluf in Calvià. Lifeguards provided first aid to the minor and called the emergency services. An ambulance then took the injured person to a medical center.
Strandings of devil rays and stingrays are becoming more frequent on Mallorcan and Spanish beaches
This case is just one of several encounters with rays on Mallorcan and Spanish beaches, most of which involve devil rays, a species threatened with extinction, according to several media reports. However, the MZ reports that stingrays, which are also native to much deeper waters, are also involved. Many of the animals die on the beach; marine researchers have so far been unable to explain the phenomenon. In an Instagram post from Sunday, July 15, the Palma Aquarium Foundation reports a total of “five devil ray strandings in the Balearic Islands” and “around 20 in the Mediterranean.” It goes on to say that “until recently, manta ray variants (Mobula mobular) were very rare.” The exact cause of the increase is not yet known; the scientific team is continuing its research to better understand what is behind it.
Palma Aquarium advises avoiding contact with rays on the beach or near the shore at all costs
Marine biologists advise not to touch a ray if you see one swimming very close to the shore or already stranded. Do not attempt to return the animal to the sea. Instead, you should call 112 and, if possible, take photos. The technicians at Palma Aquarium will then activate the rescue protocol together with rescue workers, veterinarians, and volunteers. Although it is not always possible to save the animal, every intervention provides important data, according to the Instagram post.
Stingrays have their mouths in their abdominal area and have a dangerous sting on their tails
Important to know: Devilfish, which have their mouths at the front of their bodies and no tails, are considered harmless. Pelagic stingrays, such as the one in Magaluf, have their mouths in their abdominal area and a sting on their tails that can be dangerous to humans. However, neither species should be touched, and in any case, a safe distance should be kept from the animals, advises the Palma Aquarium. The marine fauna care service in the Balearic Islands is managed by the COFIB, which is part of the Species Protection Service of the Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca i Medi Natural. The manta rescue operations are carried out as part of the project for the conservation and protection of endangered marine species in the Balearic Islands, which is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of the Environment.
