The natural predators of manta rays are a few types of sharks, killer whales and false killer whales. Occasionally you may see a manta with the characteristic 'half-moon' shark bite on it's wing. But the real danger to these sea creatures is, as always, humans and their activities.

In the vast hierarchy of the ocean, manta rays have very few natural predators due to their immense size and incredible speed. However, they are occasionally hunted by large, apex predators of the sea. The primary threats to manta rays are large shark species, specifically Tiger sharks, Great Hammerhead sharks, and Bull sharks, which are powerful enough to take down a full-grown ray. Additionally, Orcas (Killer Whales) have been known to hunt manta rays in certain regions. Because mantas lack a stinging barb like their stingray cousins, their main defense is their ability to outswim a predator or use their massive pectoral fins to create a burst of speed. Interestingly, while larger mantas are safer, smaller or juvenile rays are more vulnerable to opportunistic predators. In 2026, humans remain the greatest threat to manta rays through habitat degradation and entanglement in fishing gear.