Gill Rakers

A woman holds up a large gill raker from a manta ray in market in Gunagzhou, China. Mobula and manta rays are being hunted on a global scale for meat and for the traditional Chinese medicine or TCM market. According to this shop owner the demand for gills is on the increase, as the gills are thought to boost the bodies immune system in a time when swine and bird flu make daily headline news. Please contact me if you witness manta or mobula rays (a close cousin), being hunted, with the date, time and location. Many thanks, Paul Hilton: Conservation and environmental Photojournalist.

http://www.paulhiltonphotography.com/index.php/features/manta-mobula-rays