Motorboat: a threat to Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Brazil

Authors

  • João Carlos Gomes Borges Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Veterinária
  • Jociery Einhardt Vergara-Parente Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Veterinária
  • Carolina Mattosinho de Carvalho Alvite Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis, Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos
  • Milton César Calzavara Marcondes Instituto Baleia Jubarte
  • Régis Pinto de Lima Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis, Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos

Keywords:

aquatic mammals, sirenians, conservation, rescue, collision

Abstract

The increasing traffic of motorboats on feeding, resting and reproduction areas used by manatees causing serious problems for these animals, so scaring them away and leading to potential collisions. The purpose of this study was to describe cases interaction between boat and Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus) living in the Northeastern coast of Brazil. These interactions took place in the State of Ceará, Paraíba and Sergipe, involving three specimens, one of them with four records. Clinical alterations were observed, such as edema in the frontal part of the body, ocular proptosis, weight loss and multiple cuts all over the body. Therefore, the increasing traffic of motorboats, allied to the lack of normative rules and effective law enforcement assuring the protection of specific areas, represent a direct risk to the conservation of Antillean manatees living in the Northeastern coast of Brazil.

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Published

2007-01-01

How to Cite

Borges, J. C. G., Vergara-Parente, J. E., Alvite, C. M. de C., Marcondes, M. C. C., & Lima, R. P. de. (2007). Motorboat: a threat to Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 7(3). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/354

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