The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) says samples of a dead manatee have been sent overseas for testing after having received last Friday of a dead manatee.
‘Manatees are not native to Bermuda, and it remains unclear how the animal travelled approximately 1,000 miles beyond its normal range. The open-ocean journey, combined with limited access locally to its primary food source and fresh water, may have contributed to its poor condition,’ the BAMZ said in a statement.
It said that it had first received a report of the dead manatee on August 21 and it is believed to be the same manatee reported in several sightings throughout the month.
‘BAMZ and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) received eight reported sightings over a two-week period and coordinated their response using information from the public while consulting overseas experts on options to assist the animal.’
It said that following the initial sighting on August 5, staff conducted searches by boat and drone over two consecutive days and ‘when those searches did not locate the animal, the team continued monitoring reports from the public and responded to sightings where possible’.
The BAMZ said that manatees can be difficult to detect from the surface because of their slow movement, colouration and limited time above water.
It said that the carcass was recovered and transported to a secure location for a post-mortem examination. Initial findings confirmed the manatee was male and severely emaciated.
‘A healthy adult manatee can weigh around 1,000 lbs; this animal weighed approximately 550 lbs. A definitive cause of death cannot be determined until samples sent overseas for testing have been analysed,’ the BAMZ added.