Typhoon Lagoon - Rays?

[Twende]

DH and I have been talking about the death of the Croc Hunter and his encounter with a ray.

How in the world is it possible to swim with them in TL?

We did this in May and it was great fun and exciting but was it really dangerous?

Do they de-barb these rays or what? I noticed one did have its long tail cut off but others seemed to be whole.

Does any one know how they handle this danger?

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am pretty sure they can do something to remove the barbs and venom. We have been to several aquariums where they have a Touch Tank of rays and the kids are allowed to pet them. I remember the worker saying they had removed the dangerous parts.

 

[bookgirl2632]

Let us remember that Steve Irwin's death was a freak accident. Had the barb pierced his body in another area other than his heart, he would have likely survived. But because the barb, and thus the venom, went directly into his heart, he could not survive. Sting rays, when they sting, normally cause no more than the damage of a jellyfish. It may hurt for a short period, but they are seldom lethal. I'd hate for the sting ray to get a bad reputation because of this tragedy, as would Steve.

 

[Markstudy]

There are 100's of kinds of sharks.
The Great White is not the same as a dog-fish, yet both are "sharks".
You can book dive-trips to swim with the sharks (they don't use Great Whites)

There are 100's of types of sting-rays and skates.
Steve Irwin with hit by a Bull Ray, which is one of many types of Rays.

Even with-in a particular type of ray.... their behavior can be different depending on what part of the world they live in, and what preditors they have to defend against. The Bull Ray that hit Steve, shared the waters with tiger sharks, and was most likely in its reflex, thinking it was defending agasint another Tiger shark attack. Just its normal reflex when somthing big gets too close.

Bull Rays in some parts of the world are harmless. But Bull Rays that live in waters that are teaming with tiger sharks, learn to be a lot more nasty...(they have to be to stay alive).

Cayman Islands and many place in Florida have all kinds of events where you can touch or swim with the rays. Places like Disney or Seaworld clip the rays spike or barb (not tail)... like you clip your finger nails. In the Cayman Islands many 1,000's of cruise ship passangers interact each day with wild rays that don't have clipped barbs, but are conditioned to see the guest as feeders and not hunters.

 

[skoopman]

I have done more dives with different types of rays than I can count. If you observe the primary rule of interacting with animals and leave them alone, they will not harm you. You wouldn't go up to a bear and lay down on it would you? I do know someone who was stung by a stingray on Grand Cayman. It was during a night dive and he accidentally sat down on it and it stung him. Bottom line, don't try to touch one and you will be fine.

 

[Lorelai]

There are 100's of kinds of sharks.
The Great White is not the same as a dog-fish, yet both are "sharks".
You can book dive-trips to swim with the sharks (they don't use Great Whites)

There are 100's of types of sting-rays and skates.
Steve Irwin with hit by a Bull Ray, which is one of many types of Rays.

Even with-in a particular type of ray.... their behavior can be different depending on what part of the world they live in, and what preditors they have to defend against. The Bull Ray that hit Steve, shared the waters with tiger sharks, and was most likely in its reflex, thinking it was defending agasint another Tiger shark attack. Just its normal reflex when somthing big gets too close.

Bull Rays in some parts of the world are harmless. But Bull Rays that live in waters that are teaming with tiger sharks, learn to be a lot more nasty...(they have to be to stay alive).

Cayman Islands and many place in Florida have all kinds of events where you can touch or swim with the rays. Places like Disney or Seaworld clip the rays spike or barb (not tail)... like you clip your finger nails. In the Cayman Islands many 1,000's of cruise ship passangers interact each day with wild rays that don't have clipped barbs, but are conditioned to see the guest as feeders and not hunters.

Thank you. That was an excellent response & description. Everyone must do their part to keep animal conservation going strong!

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

I agree...we did a GREAT stringray interaction at Caymen through DCL and it was awesome and safe! I agree that Steve Irwin would not want people to start vilifying stingrays based on his one very tragic incident. As somebody who adored the croc hunter show when it was on animal planet, I must say I am deeply shocked and saddened by his death. My heart goes out to his wife and children.

 

[Lorix2]

Today on CNN they had a spokesperson for Discovery Cove live from the ray pool and he said in those types of pools/pet tanks, the barbs are cut back to reduce the possiblity of getting stung and that these creatures are used to human touch and non-threatening in that environment.

I know everyone is panicking about this, but I would not hesitate to go back to DC and swim with them again. Steve's incident is very rare and happened to be at the wrong place at the time. The ray may have been threatened by the camera man and Steve in such close proximity and felt it had to defend itself.

Those rays are probably not used to too much human closeness or contact.

My deepest sympathy is with the Irwin's.

 

[snowbunny]

There are 100's of types of sting-rays and skates.

Cayman Islands and many place in Florida have all kinds of events where you can touch or swim with the rays.

Not only events...if you go in the water off Longboat Key, for example, the little rays are swimming all around you. I have never heard of anyone being stung by one of those rays.

 

[highsmith]

They do trim the barbs. Also, they are handfed and not wild.
His death was a freak accident too. Have you ever heard of another?

The park would not have them if there was any chance of death...even serious bodily harm.

 

[mking624]

I had been excited about doing this, and then with Irwin's death, I had been considering not doing it. But I really have been an Irwin fan for many years...and somehow this just feels like closure to me if I do it.

 

[aztecgoods]

I personally sure as heck wouldn't "swim" with them at this point unless it was at a park that they de-barbed them. I don't think anyone would vilify them for they are just animals and the animal was no doubt thinking that it needed to protect itself and felt that Steve was a danger to it. This is soooo tragic for Steve was a great person. But it does change my view that stingrays are very docile. In my opinion any animal like that is potentially dangerous and should be given the utmost respect in the wild. Otherwise you are tempting fate in my opinion. I would not run from them but I certainly will give them their space. Steve's death who was maybe the best in the world at what he did, proved that no matter how safe something like that may be, there is always an unknown and danger element that you can't ignore.

 

[snowbunny]

Steve's death who was maybe the best in the world at what he did, proved that no matter how safe something like that may be, there is always an unknown and danger element that you can't ignore.

True. And let's acknowledge the fact that Steve liked to take risks.

 

[helenm29]

Yes, they do de-barb the Rays that you both swim with and touch. As you can see by Steve's accident, they can be spooked fairly easy and no one wants you to get hurt. Steve's accident was a tragic death that NONE of us will ever forget! he was an amazing man! we were just listening to his best friend tell us that when Steve got hit with the barb, he automatically pulled it out which was the WRONG thing to do because the barb's are cerated and he probably did more damage that way. Who knows? he may also have died from the venom that was injected? either way, it was a freak accident and we will truely miss him! My heart goes out to Teri, Bindi Sue, Little Bob, Dad Bob, Wes Manion and the whole gang at Australia Zoo. Helen

 

[lillygator]

Not only events...if you go in the water off Longboat Key, for example, the little rays are swimming all around you. I have never heard of anyone being stung by one of those rays.

they are all over Siesta Key as well....that's why they tell you to do the "stingray shuffle" when you see the marine life flag out....skim your feet instead of stepping.

 

[phantom728]

I was also saddened by the loss of the great Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. As a family, we have been watching him for many years.

This past January, we went on a cruise. In Grand Cayman, DD and Myself snorkeled with the stingrays and DH scuba'd and feed them.

At first it was intimidating to see them, but it was one of the best experiences in my life. They are so beautiful flowing through the water. The instructors with us, were able to handle many of them to bring for us snorkeling on the top to get a closer look. These stingrays were in the natural and although I'm sure, used to tourists, did not have their barbs cut. Our instructor said that they only strike if they feel threatened. From what I've read, between the cameraman and Steve, the stingray felt threatened. As a previous poster said, it was also where Steve was hit.

If I can figure out how to show some of the pics, I will add them. But either way, I wouldn't let it stop you from trying something new. If you are in shallow water with them, do the "Stingray Shuffle", as this way you won't step on their tails.