MANAUS, BRAZIL — After undergoing a rehabilitation and adaptation period in captivity of up to ten years, four manatees were released into a river that runs through the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve, in the municipality of Beruri, in the interior of Amazonas state. All preparation prior to their return to the wild took place in a semi-captive area at a farm partnered with the National Institute of Amazonian Research (Inpa).

The transport to the reserve took more than 24 hours and was carried out by truck and boat. Before the release, each manatee was fitted with a microchip for identification and monitoring, as well as a belt with a radio transmitter attached to its tail, allowing researchers to track their adaptation during the first months in the wild.

The animals were released during the high-water season, a period chosen by researchers for its greater availability of food. Among them is Muruá, a female that arrived at Inpa in 2016 at just four months old, weighing 25 kilograms.

The project also involves local residents in environmental education initiatives. Some of them, who previously hunted the species, now serve as monitors and assist in tracking the animals.

Experts also advise riverside communities on how to act when encountering calves. If the animal appears healthy, the recommendation is not to intervene, as the mother may be nearby. Only weakened calves should be taken to the appropriate authorities.

A total of 59 manatees have already been released in the reserve. According to researchers, each release contributes to the recovery of the species, which is threatened with extinction.

Amazon Agency