It’s hard not to be amazed and inspired by the majestic giant manta ray (Mobula birostris), one of the largest species of ray in the world.

They’re one of the most intelligent marine animals and are characterised by their distinctive diamond-shaped bodies and enormous size. I’ve vastly exaggerated the size here, but in reality they can grow up to 9 metres (30 ft), with their triangular pectoral fins alone spanning up to 7 metres (23 ft) wide!

These creatures are classified as endangered, facing numerous threats including overfishing, being caught in fishing gear, habitat destruction and pollution. Many species of ray, including giant mantas, are being driven to extinction due to the disgusting demand for their gills in traditional Chinese ‘medicine’.