August 01, 2021, 12:10 PM
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Singapore is no stranger to a number of fascinating animals.
One of them is the eagle ray, a species considered endangered around the world.
May grow to over 3m in length
On Saturday (July 31), a member of the public saw an eagle ray swimming in a body of water near VivoCity, and shared the video on Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings.
A number of commenters identified it further as a spotted eagle ray, a species that is considered "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
While the ray was quite large, it appears to be smaller than another eagle ray which was recently caught at East Coast Park.
In response to that case, NParks recently said that members of the public who go fishing are encouraged to practice catch-and-release fishing, in order to protect vulnerable species of marine animals.
According to a non-profit ocean conservation organisation, spotted eagle rays often live along the open coast, and may grow to over 3m in length.
Image via Oceana.
The rays are described as "near threatened" with extinction, due to their low reproductive rates, and being occasionally captured alive to be displayed in public aquariums.
At least this one, for now, is free.
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Top image via Khalid El Ouazghi/FB.
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