Okinawa 1988-1991

Okinawa 1988-1991

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Okinawa governor has mild stroke

Okinawa governor has mild stroke | The Japan Times Online: "NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has been hospitalized for treatment of a slight stroke but surgery is unnecessary, his deputy said Monday."

Friday, June 22, 2007

Manta Ray dies

The world's first manta ray born in captivity, in an aquarium on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, died five days after its birth, an aquarium spokeswoman said Friday.

'It's very regrettable that we lost the baby,' the spokeswoman at the Churaumi Aquarium said. 'We feel bad about failing to raise it well.'

The newborn male manta ray reportedly died of concussion and scratches when it swam into the wall of the aquarium.

The manta-ray's father had been seen chasing its own offspring, and the aquarium staff said that the baby ended up smashing against the wall in an attempt to escape.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Rare Giant Manta Born at Japan Aquarium

The baby manta, a female, was born late Saturday in a huge fish tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, more than a year after its parents mated, the aquarium said in a statement posted Sunday on its Web site.

In a video capturing the birth, the baby manta, rolled up like a tube, came sliding out of the mother manta, then quickly spread its fins and began swimming around.

The scene, recorded by the aquarium, was broadcast by national broadcaster NHK on Sunday.

The event marks the first birth of a manta in captivity, according to the aquarium, which started raising manta rays in 1988.
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