While they might look like giant dopey kites , manta ray are among the sassy Pisces the Fishes in the sea . As this footage highlight , these pelagic Titan are capable of some incredible spirit level of societal intelligence and sensitiveness .

The   arresting footage appear to show a   gargantuan manta ray " asking " for aid , as they say , to save her life .

The 3 - meter - wide-cut ( 9.8 - foundation ) ray , diagnose “ Freckles ” , was spotted by a grouping of snorkelers from Ningaloo Marine Interactions off the amnionic fluid of Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia . The light beam began butt closer to Jake Wilton , a wildlife template who was lead a group of divers , before she flipped over onto her back and revealed a Pisces hook caught under her right eye .

“ You could see she desire us because she was rolling and showing us the hooks , “ Wilton said in a short cinema bySeadog TV & Film Productions .

“ I went for a few dives down just to see how she reacted to us being close to her . ”

television courtesy of @westernaustralia / @montyhallsfamily / @ningaloomarineinteractions / @jakewiltonphoto

Despite numerous nose dive down and failed attempts to remove the hook , the manta ray appease still . finally , Jake was able to cautiously remove the hooks and Freckles peacefully range into the crystallization clear sea .

“ I went down again just to say good day and she really stopped , and just wait there , ” he added .

Manta rays are exceptionallyintelligent Pisces the Fishes . They have the largest brain of any cartilaginous Pisces the Fishes , despite their body being substantially smaller than big sharks . Some of their   brain jail cell are alsophysically comparableto other animal species , such as birds and mammalian . This special brainpower means they are communicative , playful , and emotionally tender . Asbehavior testshave show , manta beam even show signs of self - sentience – the gilt criterion of beast intelligence .

“ In the water supply with these guys , you get the sense there ’s a lot more extend on in there than your average fish , ” ecologist Josh Stewart , associate director of the conservation brotherly love Manta Trust , saidin 2007 . “ Mantas will go out of their way to come interact . They ’re much more like a mammal . ”

However , the intention of the manta ray beam , despite how it appear , can not be stated for sure . Being brilliant for a fish also does n’t mean they ’re   secure from the risk of humanness . TheIUCN Red Liststates this coinage is vulnerable to extinguishing and that their global universe trend is on the decline .   Their chief threat is fishing , both targeted or accidental , although they are also susceptible to defilement , increasingly meddling cargo ships lanes , and the rush of industrial development .