The area around the Grand Cayman Islands is so stingray-rich, it has been dubbed “stingray city,” but after a recent study, that name might be becoming less and less apt.
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment works with the Guy Harvey Research Institute to tag, number and study the stingrays in the area every few years. This year, their study turned up alarming results. Of the approximately 100 stingrays they were able to locate and tag since the project began in 2002, more than 38 percent have vanished.
While predation and migration can account for some changes on a yearly basis, these results were staggering. Scientists studying the species are scrambling for an answer, according to the Underwater Times. They are concerned about the overall health of the population, especially because the giant rays bring in thousands of tourism dollars every year. Here’s hoping they rebound. – Rick Bach
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