By Rebecca Pilkington-Vincett A feeding station popular with
manta rays is not far from the Misool Eco Resort and
Conservation Center in Raja Ampat, eastern Indonesia. RAJA
AMPAT, Indonesia —They’ve been described by one scientist as
“pandas of the ocean.” “They’re such an iconic species, beloved
by divers,” said Andrea Marshall, director of the Marine
Megafauna Foundation, who came up with the description during an
interview with NBC News. “They’re just amazing.” Unlikely as it
might seem, the panda and the manta ray have a lot in common.
Just as scientists still haven’t been able to confirm the number
of pandas in the wild, they also have no idea how many manta
rays exist. “Globally we don’t know how many manta rays there
are,” said Guy Stevens, director of the U.K.-based Manta Trust,
whose research is largely based around manta populations in the
Maldives. But -- again, like the panda -- scientists think it’s
a small population. “If they’re lucky, (manta rays) have two
pups (over several years). That’s a v