The manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a mammal belonging to the order of Sirenians, which can reach up to 800 kilograms. They are docile animals, extremely charismatic and are distributed in Brazilian marine and coastal environments, from Alagoas to Amapá. These mammals are non-ruminant herbivores and unlike the Amazonian manatee, they have nails on their thoracic fins and a grayish coloration.
Their daily diet corresponds to about 8% of their live weight, mainly ingesting a plant called "Grass-needle". In addition, algae and mangrove leaves are part of their diet, being the ingestion of small invertebrates accidental.
Unfortunately, the distribution scenario of this species in Brazil is not favorable. The manatee is one of the most endangered species of aquatic mammals in the Brazilian territory, with an estimated 500 individuals in the wild. But after all, what threatens this species and what is the outlook for manatee conservation in Brazil?
Previously, and with greater intensity, predatory hunting was the greatest threat to the species. Currently, with hunting being controlled by those responsible, it is observed that these animals continue to suffer critically from anthropic pressure. This is mainly due to the degradation of marine and coastal environments associated with reproductive factors of the species, which is slow (about 13 months) and gives rise to few manatee baby with little genetic variability.
The panorama of newborn manatee strandings in northeastern Brazil is immense. With the areas of calm waters for birth being affected anthropogenically, the mothers stop at sea, increasing the probability of stranding these pups, as they have a very strong dependence on the mother, needing her to learn movements such as breathing, moving and feed.
Due to the low number of individuals in nature, associated with the low degree of genetic variability, it is extremely important for the conservation of the marine manatee, the rehabilitation of stranded neonates, since the reintroduction of these animals to the wild will directly contribute to the success of the species. The rehabilitation of these animals takes a long time, since they are infants for 2 years and, after that, they need to learn to eat solid foods and only then, they will have to go through a moment of acclimatization, in which they get used to the natural environment. Only after all these steps, it will be evaluated if this animal is fit to be released and monitored.
Currently, in the Brazilian context, we have institutions that work with the rescue, rehabilitation, release and monitoring of the species. We can mention ICMBio/APA Costa dos Corais, ICMBio/CMA, Aquatic Mammals Foundation-FMA, NGO AQUASIS and the Cetacean Project of the Costa Branca of the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB UERN). We have animals that have already been released, now being followed and monitored and we are also experiencing historical events such as releases and monitoring in the state of Ceará by AQUASIS and the 1st translocation of the manatee in Rio Grande do Norte, by the PCCB.
To add efforts to the conservation of this species, the community is extremely important. Integrating this into sustainable development practices, such as community tourism, directly contributes to the success of the species conservation project.
In addition, environmental education ends up becoming one of the most effective tools for raising awareness of communities that live nearby, showing their importance to the ecological niche of the region and if any case of stranding occurs, it is necessary to notify the responsible environmental agencies to act as soon as possible.
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