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It is almost after 45 years that a rare and exotic ornate eagle ray (Aetomylaeus vespertilio) was captured on camera at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Footage of extremely rare species that conservationists believe is becoming increasingly rare; It was shared by Jacinta Shackleton, a marine biologist and conservationist, on her Instagram profile.
The biologist was diving on the reef when she first saw two rays on March 25. Later, he managed to capture one of the rays that swam in the waters of the sea and decided to share his memorable encounter on Instagram with the world.
According to marine biologists, the number of these eagle rays has halved in the past 45 years, and that’s what makes this sighting exciting news. The ornate eagle ray is an extremely rare species, so it was no less than a surprise to researchers that the ray was seen not just once but twice in a matter of weeks.
Both times, the rare species was seen near Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef. The reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, consisting of more than 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands. The reef stretches for more than 2300 km over an area of around 344,400 km2.
Located in the Coral Sea, Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is so large that it can be seen from outer space. Another thing that makes this place extraordinary is that the Great Barrier Reef is also the largest individual structure in the world made by living organisms (built by billions and billions of small organisms, called coral polyps).
In 1981, the reef was chosen as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is also counted among the seven natural wonders of the world.
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