Abstract
The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is currently threatened by commercial hunting, habitat loss and gillnets bycatch.1 Rehabilitation efforts by the Centro de Rescate Amazonico (CREA) and The Dallas World Aquarium resulted in the rescue of 51 manatees since 2009. Of these, 16 manatees are currently being rehabilitated and 18 individuals released into remote Amazon regions. Upon review of the 51 cases, we found orphan calves <40 kg to be the primary demographic being admitted (78%). Orphan calves were primarily rescued being kept as pets/village mascots (61%), after the adult females were hunted for their meat. Other rescue reasons included fisherman bycatch (16%), harpoon/machete injuries (8%), and meat farming (4%). Weights at rescue ranged from 8.5 kg–131 kg and total straight length varied from 84 cm–208 cm. Based on necropsy findings, the most common cause of death was enteritis, primarily from gastrointestinal obstruction (47%), followed by pneumonia (24%), trauma (12%), malnutrition/emaciation (12%) and atresia ani (5%).
Visual surveys are challenging in this elusive, exclusively freshwater species.3 Through CREA we have funded GPS tracking of wild individuals to gain knowledge on population sizes in Loreto, Peru in addition to tracking the rehabilitated animals post-release.5 By focusing on individual animal rehabilitation and educational outreach to over 90,000 local people in remote communities, we aim to improve education on how to coexist with the Amazonian manatee. Each rehabilitated Amazonian manatee is used as a species ambassador, improving local knowledge and promoting long term survival of the species.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank all of the staff at DWA and CREA who work diligently to make the Amazonian manatee rehabilitation program a success, particularly Carlos Marcial Perea-Sicchar.
* Presenting author
Literature Cited
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4. Díaz-Cordova C, Perea-Sicchar CM, Miranda-Orbe E, Terrones-Ahuite EJ. 2016 Estimación de la abundancia relativa del manatí amazónico (Trichechus inunguis) en el río Lagartococha del Parque Nacional Güeppí Sekime y Reserva Comunal Airo Pai. Loreto, Perú. SERNANP Peru Inform Technico Volumen de marcha.