Little Rays
Saturday, 28. July 2007, 16:26:19
When I was just a child my first excursion into the salty sea was prefaced with dire warnings about those stinging rays. Then, not as now, the fearsome rays in question were not from the sun but of those found beneath the lovely waves. The danger still lurks but, as all things, with time has become just a part of life and yes, before my child first dipped her toes into the brine I urged her to step lightly...
RAY BAY
Seal Beach's reputation as a hot spot for stingray injuries is well-deserved, says a new study by Cal State Long Beach. Lead researcher Chris Lowe reports that swimmers, surfers and waders were hit by stingrays at least 2,264 times from 1997-2005. The city averaged 251 injuries per year during that period, according a paper Lowe presented at an American Elasmobranch Society meeting in St. Louis
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WIDGETIZE
DonYan # 4. August 2007, 08:06
When you step down on the sand bottom, you raise some murk. StingRays are curious & hungry: they inmediatly come to see what you are doing (it´s their home: you are a gest!) and if there is something edible, among that cloud you raised when steping. If you come too close, they bury themselves, leaving only their eyes uncovered.
And steping on them (steping on such a small animal...) is like steping on a Scorpion: it´s a conditioned reflex, their only defence. I heard the Crocodile Hunter got the sting through his hart.
Never had I anything like that happening to me, yet. They like to play with me (I don´t grab them) and I allways carry some edibles for interacting with them (guests, some times take some food to your home, ¿no?) They like when rubbing their stomach
Very few times I noticed a type of StingRay, same size & shape but very whitish in color. They move in very fast ZigZags when aptroached, and head for the deep. I leave them alone, maybe it´s another species
(¿electric ray?) or they are simply having a bad day! (like period days)
We have to respect the moods of all animals. There is no doubt when they are friendly. They will touch you when ready and confident, don´t try to touch them first: they feel atacked.
But my favorites are the MantaRays: such gentle giants, such flying when they move...they love to tickle their stomach with the air bubbles of scuba divers!
The golden rule: if you are affraid, ¿why are you there??? Be aware instead, learn their language (no suden moves) and respect them & their environment (don´t leave beer cans, plastic chipp bags, etc)
Nature is the Joy of Life. (second to skydive only)
Donyan
mommyluvsliz # 4. August 2007, 18:10
DonYan # 4. August 2007, 18:57
I do my interactions with other life forms, away from tourists areas. I wonder if Ecoturism respects the environment: I hope they do!
See you, DonYan