Overview
- Rescue Location
- Sittee River; Belize
- Release Location
- Sittee River; Belize
- Rescue Date
- 01.25.2021
- Release Date
- 01.25.2021
- Species
- Manatee
- Reason for Rescue
- Entangled.
Location
Details
On Monday, January 18, 2021, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Belize (CMARI) received a report of an entangled manatee dragging a boat bumper in the Stann-Creek district, a little south of the coast of Dangriga Town. After a week of searching for the manatee and being delayed by heavy rains and winds, CMARI biologists were able to locate the animal just north of the Sittee River mouth on Monday, January 25.
Upon a successful intake of the female manatee, it was discovered to have a large fishing hook lodged inside the right side of her mouth. It is noteworthy to mention that a fresh injury or piercing with a similar diameter as the hook was also observed on the right flipper which would suggest that the manatee possibly had a second hook in that flipper. The team successfully removed the hook and cleaned and treated the wounds on the boat deck. The manatee’s injuries were evaluated, health was assessed, bio-metrics were recorded and the manatee was pit tagged for future identification. She was found to be 264 cm and in good body condition, her physical ability was normal, and the injuries were not life-threatening. She was then released in the immediate area where she was rescued.
