Multi award winning wildlife cameraman Doug Allan and the Manta Trust are hosting an event at the Royal Geographical Society in London to celebrate World Manta Day, on 17 September
‘World Manta Day: An Evening with Doug Allan’ promises ‘incredible stories of adventure and unique wildlife encounters’ from Allan’s 100 filming expeditions and 35 years of polar exploration and his many on-screen firsts as a cameraman for documentaries such as Blue Planet, Planet Earth, and Frozen Planet.
Mr Allan has been a long-time supporter and patron of the Manta Trust and an enthusiastic champion of manta ray conservation since being introduced to the Maldivian manta ray population by Manta Trust CEO and co-founder Dr Guy Stevens.
Doors will open at 18:30 so guests have a chance to meet Doug before the event and buy a signed copy of his new book, Freeze Frame. The event will run from 19:30 – 21:00 and will also feature talks and videos from Dr Stevens, and mobula ray geneticist and Manta Trust Trustee, Dr Emily Humble.
World Manta Day was launched by the Manta Trust in 2020 and is celebrated annually by dozens of organisations and thousands of divers and ocean lovers around the world. Manta rays, like many ocean species, are threatened by the fisheries, unsustainable development and tourism, and the changing climate which impacts their food sources and habitats.
The Manta Trust and its affiliate projects across the globe work to protect manta rays and marine ecosystems through scientific research, policy and legislation change and education and outreach events.
Tickets to the event are on sale now, costing £15, or £10 for children and students with all proceeds going to the Manta Trust’s global research, education, and conservation work. Tickets can be purchased online through Ticket Source, at www.ticketsource.co.uk/manta-trust.
For more information about the event, visit www.mantatrust.org. Doug Allan was featured in the Autumn 2019 issue of DIVE.
