"manta ray"

Two manta ray species, the oceanic manta ray and the reef manta ray, inhabit the waters of Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua. Each species has distinct morphological characteristics and behaviors, but the most glaring difference between the two is that oceanic mantas grow much larger.

A rare giant manta some five metres wide has been spotted near Ta Chai Island in Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga province, according to Somporn Kaewmaneechote, a diving instructor with Sea Turtle Diver Co Ltd.

The Bangkok Asean Film Festival rolled to an end earlier this week, with rookie director Phuttiphong Aroonpheng picking up yet another award for his debut oeuvre, “Kraben Rahu” (“Manta Ray”), which became the first Thai movie to win Best Film in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section of last year’s Venice International Film Festival.

Phuttiphong Aroonpheng's debut feature, which focuses on attitudes towards the Rohingya, wins big in Venice

Authorities are trying to determine why as many as 14 stingrays were found dead in Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram province.