After being rescued, the manatee calves receive specific treatment from specialists at the National Institute for Amazonian Research, so that in the future the mammals can return to their natural habitat. "The manatee is a mammal, it breathes atmospheric oxygen and has to go to the surface to breathe. The calf goes every minute or so, which makes it vulnerable to hunters. Adults, on the other hand, can stay underwater for eight to ten minutes. In an experiment we carried out here at Inpa a few years ago, we discovered that when they feel threatened, they can spend up to 30 minutes immersed in the water," said Anselmo da Fonseca, Inpa's veterinarian.

Source: Amazon Agency