MANAUS, BRAZIL - A calf of the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), injured in a suspected illegal hunting attempt, was rescued by the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam) on Thursday (April 23) in Itacoatiara, about 176 kilometers (109 miles) from Manaus. The animal, a female with harpoon wounds on its back, was transported to the state capital for rehabilitation.

Specialists carried out the operation, keeping the animal सुरक्षित throughout the journey in a specially adapted vehicle. The calf, measuring 1.11 meters (3.6 feet) in length and weighing 21 kilograms (46 pounds), was found by a fisherman in an access area to the Arari River near Itacoatiara, in the interior of Amazonas state.

The animal was taken to the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in south-central Manaus, where it received care from the Friends of the Manatee Association (Ampa) at the Aquatic Mammals Laboratory. Initially, the calf is undergoing clinical and physical examinations, including laboratory tests, to assess its health condition.

According to specialists, the rehabilitation process until release back into the wild is lengthy. The species plays a key role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, contributing to vegetation control and water quality.

The Amazonian manatee is classified as vulnerable to extinction, mainly threatened by illegal hunting, habitat degradation and calf capture.

Amazon Agency