The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) received a report from Maritime Operations on Friday, 21 August, of a dead manatee.
Staff responded immediately and, unfortunately, found the animal deceased near Trinity Church in Harrington Sound. 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.
Following the initial sighting on 5 August, staff conducted searches by boat and drone over two consecutive days. When those searches did not locate the animal, the team continued monitoring reports from the public and responded to sightings where possible.
Manatees can be difficult to detect from the surface because of their slow movement, colouration and limited time above water.
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.
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.
BAMZ and DENR thank members of the public who reported sightings and helped the team monitor the animal.
