DOLPHIN DISCOVERY PARTICIPATES IN THE RESCUE PLAN FOR THE MANATEES IN TABASCO
Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, August 1st, 2018. - Since the month of May, death cases of manatees have been reported in Tabasco in the municipality of Macuspana and Centla. Today, there are approximately 20 specimens that have been found dead in the water. Because of this, Dolphin Discovery has decided to join the investigation of the cause of deaths and the rescue plan of these mammals.
Dolphin Discovery investigates the possible causes along with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA for its acronym in Spanish), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SERMARNAT), National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Acuarios de éxico A.C. (AZCARM), and the Mexican Association of Habitats for the Interaction and Protection of Marine Mammals A.C. (AMHMAR).
According to AMHMAR, the rescue plan considers the following stages: localization, capture, handling, transportation, temporary safeguard, and finally their relocation in their natural environment. For now, they are analyzing the orphan manatees that are still alive in the area even though PROFEPA and CONAGUA already declared the area free of toxic elements, insecticide, and heavy metals.
"Our priority is and will always be the welfare of the animals, the welfare of the marine mammals living under our care and the ones in the wild. For Dolphin Discovery this investigation is very important and it is crucial to know what is causing the death of these manatees, stop it, and take the necessary measures to stop it from happening in the future. We will keep working with the authorities and other associations to find a solution to this unfortunate event" said Roberto Sánchez, Director of Veterinary Medicine and Investigation in Grupo Dolphin Discovery.
It is important to mention that the manatee is among the endangered species, they die due to boats that hit them while navigating in the waters where they live, hunting, predators, and due to the speed to which they swim since they are very slow swimmers and therefore incredibly vulnerable beings.
August 1st, 2018
