150kg sting ray rescued from Durban Harbour

A FEMALE Round Ribbontail Ray, which was found in the Durban harbour, was rescued and released this week. 

Ann Kunz, the spokesperson for the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr), said the stingray was spotted in the harbour on Thursday December 2 by Lieutenant Colonel G. Morey from the harbour police.

“A large stingray had become trapped in the old submarine dock on Salisbury Island (Naval Base). Initial attempts to assess the ray’s condition were unsuccessful as the water was cloudy and far too dirty to see the ray. The harbour police continued to check on the ray over the weekend and, thankfully, on December 6, the conditions improved to such an extent that they were able to confirm that the ray was alive,” said Kunz.

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Staff from the uShaka Sea World curatorial team at Saambr loaded their vehicle with the necessary equipment to rescue and release the ray. 

“On arrival, the team took time to access the situation before they began planning the unique rescue operation. The ray was confirmed to be a female Round Ribbontail Ray of approximately 150kg,” said Kunz.

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The team climbed down a rope ladder into the water, which was about 3m deep, before they guided the stingray onto the specially designed stretcher. It needed to be hoisted out of the water by a crane.

The ray was then carried to the adjacent slipway by stretcher and released.

“Although the conditions in the submarine dock were not ideal, we could not standby and watch this magnificent animal in trouble without trying to assist. I am grateful to the harbour police, the navy and my amazing colleagues who assisted in this unique and well-executed rescue operation,” said Saambr’s senior aquarist, Jason Haxton.

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