2 manatees rescued by CZMAI and Sea to Shore Alliance

Last week the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) and the Sea to Shore Alliance were informed about manatees who were harbored for days in Vista Del Mar near the Oar Restaurant. The assessment team found out that one manatee was seriously injured across its back and the fin on another was caught in a line. According to Nicole Auil Gomez, the National Consultant for the CZMAI, the rescue effort to save the large mammals was successful because of help from BATSUB and the Belize Coastguard which then transported them to a rehabilitation facility.

Nicole Auil Gomez, National Consultant, CZMAI

Nicole Auil Gomez

“Found in Vista del Mar with a large chop wound on its back; the chop would probably be from the bottom of an engine. And we were able to retrieve that manatee with the help of many, many volunteers, people we picked up on the streets, some BATSUB fellows, locals from the area around Ladyville; many volunteers that have helped with Coastal Zone in the past. We were able to successfully pick up this manatee and do a quick assessment of it. Doctor Jane Crawford from Animal Medical Center came and helped us as well and the animal is thought to have a broken rib from the boat injury and probably has injuries in the lung cavity. And it was taken up to Sarteneja where it was put in a large pool to begin to heal. It was put in a safe environment away from boats because where it was; it was fairly quiet—it was in a quiet area in attempts to get away from the traffic and so on. Coincidentally, we picked up another animal with that large female—this was a smaller female, but a sub-adult—and she had around her right flipper, a mass of monofilament line entangled in the armpit. I had to remove that. I spent a couple hours removing that and pretty much digging out the monofilament line almost to the bone. What could have happened was when that animal was smaller, it got the monofilament line around its flipper and it grew and the monofilament line can’t break and so it pretty much was like a big belt strangling the flipper. Sp I was able to remove it and the veterinarian checked it and cleaned it and gave it some antibiotics and we released the animal. It is anticipated that that manatee will now not lose its flipper because it is possible that it could have lost its flipper with that monofilament line. So we had a very rigorous day of manatee rescue and unexpected, but fortunately we were fortunate to pick that manatee up and save its flipper possibly.”

Jose Sanchez

“And that first manatee—the one with the cut on its back—do you believe that will be able to survive? Where is it now?”

Nicole Auil Gomez

“Right now it is in the Manatee Rehabilitation Facility in Sarteneja. The group, Wild Tracks, does the care, the daily care. They have numerous volunteers that come in from abroad that help with daily monitoring. We also have two other animals up there—that is where we have Duke and we have Twiggy and now this animal; it’s a large female. And the prognosis for her is uncertain at this time; we are getting words from the veterinarian in the United States on how to proceed and do some worming.”

Gomez says she hopes to get financial support from the public to continue with the healthcare of the animals.