Pelagic rays are one of the most endangered groups of elasmobranchs globally.  While capable of moving large distances they are often tied to island or coastal lagoons and estuaries for bearing live young or food resources and susceptible to human impacts such as bycatch in fisheries, habitat loss, pollution and vessel disturbances or strikes.  Over the last twenty years through collaborative research, large gains in knowledge have been made about their biology and ecology which has aided in their conservation and management.  One example is the whitespotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari).  Since 2009, Mote’s Sharks and Rays Conservation Research Program in collaboration with Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program has conducted research with this species near Sarasota, Florida, sampling and tagging 729 rays.  This research has involved over 100 high school, undergraduate and graduate students, professional colleagues and aquarium personnel to train and build capacity.  Students and colleagues from over 15 countries including Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Kenya, South Africa, U.K., France, and Belgium participated in this research. Additionally, we have collaborated on in-country research in locations such as Cuba, Mexico, Bermuda, Brazil, and Galapagos Ecuador which has yielded several co-authored publications on ray biology and ecology.  Some of the sampling and handling techniques pioneered with whitespotted eagle rays have allowed us to build research projects with other ray species while also involving students and collaborators. We highlight additional case studies with a few other ray species and that is takes cooperation and a village of researchers to shed light on their biology and ecology which ultimately leads to enhanced conservation measures.