Manatee Found With “Trump” Scrubbed Into Its Back: Manatees, slow-moving marine mammals that have thick algae growing on the backs of their bodies, are slow-moving.
Federal laws protect them, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMAP).
Shockingly, Trump’s name might have been carved into the manatee’s back.
These creatures are compassionate and vulnerable. The Wildlife Department is currently investigating.
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A manatee found in Florida’s Homosassa river with the word “Trump” on its back was shocking.
The incident is currently under investigation by federal officials because conservationists believe it cruel.
A boat captain on the river Sunday reported the incident to wildlife authorities. Someone wrote the word on the back of the manatee.
The Center for Biological Diversity, a national conservation group, offers a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of the perpetrators.
Dave Bautista, former WWE champ and Guardians of the Galaxy actor, has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the confidence of the perpetrators.
According to The New York Times, harassing or injuring manatees is a federal crime and could lead to fines of up to $50,000 and a year of imprisonment.
The act also violates federal and state laws protecting endangered animals.
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Manatees are often called “sea cows” and flock to the warm springs along Florida’s west coast at this time of the year.
While federal and state law protects them, they are still vulnerable to motorboat engines, fishing nets, and human interaction.
A viral video of a manatee with the phrase “TRUMP” written on its back has sparked furious reactions from social media users.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched an investigation into the harassment of this endangered marine mammal.
The animal was visible in Homosassa on Sunday. Hailey Warrington, a boat captain, claimed that she captured the manatee on a swim tour and then reported it to authorities.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated that the manatee was not injured but that the word TRUMP had been etched onto the skin of the alga.
Contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1 888-404–FWCC if you have information.
Authorities
Both federal and state laws protect manatees. Anybody found harassing manatees can face fines of up to $50,000 and a year in federal jail.
The manatee’s defacing is an alarming act that breaches multiple laws. It also highlights the devastating impact of politics on wildlife.
The Center for Biological Diversity says they offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to convictions.
Hailey Warrington, a Florida tour boat captain, discovered the animal in Blue Hole’s headwaters at Homosassa.
She notified the U.S. authorities. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently investigating.
Conservationists
Multiple federal laws protect manatees and other aquatic mammals similar to them.
However, they face many threats. Manatees have many dangers, including climate disruption and rapid coastal development.
Conservationists who work to protect endangered species and wild places sometimes face backlash.
Recent graffiti that threatened a Florida endangered manatee demonstrates how even peaceful sea creatures are susceptible to the political whims of humans.
The Citrus County Chronicle reports that a boat captain found the manatee’s word “Trump” in its back while fishing in Florida’s Homosassa river on Sunday.
Both federal and local authorities considered the matter.
Mutilation of a juvenile manatee is a brutal, criminal act. It violates the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
For information leading to conviction, the Center for Biological Diversity, a national nonprofit conservation group, offers a $5,000 reward.
