Manatee calf rescued in Marajó with support from the community and environmental institutions
The animal is among the endangered species. Coordinated work between public agencies, civil society organizations, and local residents was essential to ensure the calf's survival.
A manatee calf (Trichechus inunguis), an endangered species, was rescued on Wednesday (24) in Vila São José, in Santa Cruz do Arari, in the Marajó Archipelago. The operation was coordinated by the Regional Office of Marajó of the Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity (Ideflor-Bio), with support from the municipal environmental secretariats of Santa Cruz do Arari and Cachoeira do Arari, as well as the Bicho D’água Institute.
The animal was located by community members in the region, who alerted the Soure City Hall and the
Ideflor-Bio. Given the urgency of the case, the Bicho D’água Institute was mobilized to provide technical support for the operation. The Institute's team remotely guided the emergency care for the calf and recommended a specific feeding formula to ensure its stability until the arrival of the specialized team.
Care - On the same day of the rescue, the calf was transported by river to the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari, with logistical support from the Military Police. The route followed safety and welfare protocols, minimizing the animal's stress during transport. Since the beginning of the operation, the coordinated work between public agencies, civil society organizations, and local residents was essential to ensure the calf's survival.
On Thursday (24), teams from the Bicho D’água Institute and the Eastern Marajó Regional Office of Ideflor-Bio traveled from Soure to Cachoeira do Arari to retrieve the animal. It will be sent to the Bicho D’água Institute's Wildlife Stabilization Base, where it will undergo clinical evaluation and initial care before being transferred to the rehabilitation center in Castanhal, in the northeastern region of Pará.
The calf will be incorporated into the Amazonian manatee conservation program developed by the Bicho D’água Institute, the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). At the Aquatic Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the animal will receive continuous veterinary care, controlled feeding, and specialized monitoring until it reaches suitable conditions to return to the wild.
Satisfaction - The manager of the Eastern Marajó Regional Office of Ideflor-Bio, Osiane Barbosa, highlighted the joint effort involved in the action. “This rescue is a direct result of the trust between the riverside communities and the environmental agencies. Each link in the network acted with commitment and speed, showing that conservation is possible when there is dialogue, science, and community involvement,” she emphasized.
The case reinforces the importance of environmental vigilance and communication with authorities in situations involving at-risk wildlife. The Amazonian manatee is listed as an endangered species according to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), and its rescue represents an important step for the preservation of Amazonian biodiversity.
