Manta rays are increasingly kept in large public aquariums despite evidence that captivity causes serious welfare and health problems for these wide-ranging animals.
Virtually all captive manta rays have died within months to years of capture, unable to adapt to tank environments. Their constant swimming behavior — essential for respiration — leads to repeated collisions with tank walls, causing chronic injuries. No aquarium has successfully maintained mantas long-term despite enormous investment. Conservation biologists argue that manta captivity cannot be justified given the welfare record and availability of wild-based education alternatives.