A manatee who would have lived 50 years in Puerto Rico was found dead in the port of Yabucoa with injuries compatible with the impact of a large boat.
This was reported by the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center through a publication on their social networks.
The specimen, a 10-foot-long adult male, would be the oldest manatee documented on the island.according to the organization.
The particular markings on its tail allowed it to be recognized as “Caribbean”a manatee medically evaluated decades ago by doctor Antonio Mignuccidirector of the Center, together with biologists from the USGS Sirenia Project.
According to the Center, The autopsy revealed injuries in the cranial region compatible with the impact of a large boat. The team also identified severe gastrointestinal parasitism and other significant lesions in multiple organs.
“Preliminarily, the death is considered multifactorial, with the impact from the vessel being the primary cause, in an animal with pre-existing chronic health conditions that could have increased its vulnerability,” the organization explained.
The Center highlighted that the case could provide valuable information about the longevity of the manatee population in Puerto Rico and stressed the importance of boating responsibly.
“This case reminds us of two things: the importance of boating responsibly and the enormous value of decades of research and monitoring of our manatees,” express.
The Center appreciated the collaboration of the Rangers Corps of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA), Management of Protected Natural Areas and the United Rapid Action Forces (FURA) in the mobilization and transportation of the animal.
The manatee is protected by the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Their main threats include ship strikes, habitat loss, and entanglement or ingestion of fishing gear and marine debris.
To prevent incidents, it is recommended wear polarized glasses that allow you to identify animals in the water, reduce the speed of boats to five miles per hour in estuarine areas, do not throw garbage or fishing lines into the sea and respect state and federal boating regulations.
Those who find an injured, endangered, stranded manatee or an orphaned calf can call 9-1-1, the DRNA Ranger Corps at 787-999-2200, extensions 2910 or 2911, or the Manatee Conservation Center at 787-400-2782.