Episode 702: Grand Cayman's Famous Stingrays

One of Grand Cayman’s most popular tourist attractions is the Stingray Sandbar, found in the shallow, crystal-clear waters of the island’s North Sound. There, dozens of tame stingrays greet thousands of excited tourists each year, who come to the spot to feed and interact with the wild animals. But what impact might this frequent interaction have on the rays? Famous marine artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey has assembled a team of experts from the Guy Harvey Research Institute and the Georgia Aquarium that is trying to answer this question. The scientists are tracking the numbers of animals at the site over time and are looking at their nutritional and reproductive health.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

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The Cayman Islands are a popular tourist destination in the Western Caribbean.

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Jessica Harvey drives one of the research boats out to the Sandbar. Videographer Allan Farrell films on the bow.

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Videographer Allan Farrell films as the research team heads out to the Sandbar.

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Rays approach the boat as it arrives at the Sandbar.

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A southern stingray at the Sandbar.

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Jessica Harvey looks out at the stingrays.

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Jessica Harvey, aka the stingray catcher, grabs a hold of one of the animals to be examined.

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Stingray catcher Jessica Harvey walks a ray over to the boat.

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The research team lifts a ray up onto the boat, where it will be examined in a kiddie pool.

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Veterinarian Tonya Clauss draws blood from a stingray.

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Veterinarian Tonya Clauss draws blood from a stingray.

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Veterinarian Alexa McDermott conducts an ultrasound on a female stingray.

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The southern stingrays at the Sandbar are very tame and don’t mind people touching them.

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Changing Seas Videographer Sean Hickey films the stingrays at the Sandbar.

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Videographer Sean Hickey films the stingrays at the site.

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Guy Harvey, Ph.D. interacting with a stingray.

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Guy Harvey, Ph.D. captures a stingray to be examined.

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The research team lifts a stingray up onto the boat to be examined.

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Jessica Harvey teaches Changing Seas Producer Alexa Elliott how to properly hold a stingray.

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Jessica Harvey gently holds on to a small ray.

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Female rays are much larger than the males.

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Veterinarian Alexa McDermott holds a stingray while Jessica Harvey looks on.

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Tourist boats at the site.

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Thousands of tourists visit Grand Cayman’s famous rays each year.

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Rays do possess a venomous barb that they use to defend themselves, but at the Sandbar the rays are accustomed to being around people.

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The research team at the Sandbar.

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Changing Seas Videographers Allan Farrell and Sean Hickey.

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Videographer Allan Farrell films Guy Harvey, Ph.D. painting in his gallery.

Special Thanks:

Sunset House
P.O. Box 479
Grand Cayman KY1-1106
Cayman Islands
(345) 949-7111

Sunset Divers
P.O. Box 479
Grand Cayman KY1-1106
Cayman Islands
(345) 949-7111

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Cayman Islands Department of Environment

Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

Guy Harvey

Colby Johnson

Guy Harvey Research Institute/NSU