In Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, forest officials have booked a group of fishermen for catching a giant manta ray, a species protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The fishermen, led by Joseph (54) from Periyathalai, auctioned the 1,080 kg manta ray for ₹56,000.
The fish, classified as endangered by the IUCN, was caught on January 21 and brought to shore using a crane. Officials have registered an FIR against the group for violating wildlife protection laws. A forest official noted that the manta ray can be found in both Indian and international waters, emphasizing its conservation importance.
#WildlifeProtection #MantaRay #EndangeredSpecies #Thoothukudi #WildlifeAct #ConservationMatters
