Giant Manta Ray rescued off Delaware coast [video]

Crews worked for two hours to free the 13-foot long ray from some rope off the coast of Bethany Beach.

Officers with Delaware Fish and Wildlife found the ray while on regular patrol last weekend. The 13-foot long, 2,000 pound Giant Manta Ray was tangled in about 50 feet of rope that was attached to a concrete anchor. 

After struggling to free the animal for more than two hours, the officers were finally able to free the giant fish. 

According to the manta ray conservation group Manta Trust, manta rays are typically only seen as far north as the Carolinas. There have been recent efforts to list mantas on the endangered species list. They are considered a “vulnerable” species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.