In August of 2012, Juanita suffered more than 10 stab wounds as a small calf when she was rescued in the Bayahíbe area, in the southeast coast of Hispaniola island.
Juanita, Pepe and Lupita are West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) that have set a record. They are the very first manatees to be successfully rescued, rehabilitated, released, and tracked in the Dominican Republic.
Chessie, a manatee known to have traveled from Florida to Rhode Island in the 90s, is now being tracked by scientists at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute.
Even though “Leesburg” was killed by human interaction, her story inspired so many to learn more about manatees. Her journey will live on by the invaluable movement data she provided researchers and residents that live and play on the Ocklawaha waterways, all the way down to Leesburg, Florida.
