Massive Manta “Zeus” released

A 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) manta ray was returned to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after three years as a research subject and tourist attraction at a Bahamian resort. The massive black ray, known as “Zeus,” was lowered from a helicopter on a hydraulically welded frame to ensure its safe entry into the water. It spans nearly 13 feet (4 meters) in diameter — including a 3-foot (1 meter) mouth.

Marine biologists had studied the creature and will now use a satellite tracking tag to monitor its movements in the open sea.

Relocating the ray from its 2.7 million-gallon (10.2 million-liter) aquarium took more than two hours, according to a statement issued by the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

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