2008-05-08 23:51:10 -

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) - 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.
Known for its water slides and pink-towered hotel, the Atlantis is the flagship resort of Kerzner International Holdings, a casino and hotel developer. The resort employs 7,800 people, making it the largest private employer in the Bahamas.