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Good Works Conducted To Help Manta Rays . . .

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“Manta Network Recognized”

Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Grant Awarded

M A N T A   A L E R T

The Official Newsletter of The Manta Network

Issue No. 15, October 2007

The Manta Network has been chosen to receive a Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund award for 2007. We were selected from over 260 applications. The $1.5 million dollar fund supports several important research projects and is made possible by donations from guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line. www.disneywildlifefund.com

TMN's Indonesia Manta Migration study will investigate the movements of mantas as they leave the Alor Islands in Indonesia which is located near the Komodo National Reserve. This grant will make possible the tagging of manta rays in an area of the world where they are most threatened.

TMN Conducts Research in the Maldives Tim Clark, member of the Manta Science Advisory Board, concluded our first acoustic tracking studies in the Maldives. Working together with our manta affiliate, Guy Stevens, they actively tracked a manta ray named Doris as she snaked around the atolls of Duravandu and Madu. In addition, several

VR2 acoustic bottom monitors were positioned to allow six other mantas to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

Tim's preliminary report will be available in November. His findings will be presented at the International Manta and Mobula Symposium next July.

Meanwhile, a team of Manta Network field research assistants participated in the identification of mantas while aboard the Sea Spirit in the Maldives. Under the direction of Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler, research assistants documented numerous sightings over a 10-day period. These observations will be added to the ongoing research conducted by Anne-Marie and will be included in the Manta Network's Global Manta Database.

ASSISTANT MANTA RESEARCHERS NEEDED FOR 2008 MANTA FIELD WORK Sign up now to learn more about 2008 Manta Expeditions.

please contact  Robert Aston robert@mantas.org

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