As drought grips the Amazon, the region’s rivers recede, leaving Amazonian manatees vulnerable to poachers. These elusive creatures, usually hidden in the murky depths of the rainforest’s waterways, find themselves exposed as water levels drop. While they survived the intense heat of 2023’s historic drought that claimed the lives of many river dolphins, the shallow waters bring a new peril—ruthless poachers.
The Rising Threat of Poaching
Amazonian manatees, which can weigh up to half a ton, are at heightened risk during dry seasons. “The drought represents an increase in the opportunities hunters have,” explains Anselmo d’Affonseca, a veterinarian at the Aquatic Mammals Laboratory (LMA) at Brazil’s National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA). Despite the hunting of Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis) being banned nearly 60 years ago, the practice persists, particularly during droughts when manatees become easier targets.
Cultural Shifts and Continuing Dangers
Although younger generations in riverside communities are losing cultural ties to manatee meat, reducing demand, hunting remains a severe threat. In certain areas of the Amazon Rainforest, manatee meat is still highly valued. “Hunting presents an opportunity to make money,” notes d’Affonseca. A single manatee can yield up to two-thirds of its weight in meat, a lucrative prospect for poachers.
Law enforcement has curbed open trade in larger cities, but in remote areas, manatee meat continues to be consumed, often without fear of legal repercussions. Monitoring in these isolated communities is challenging due to limited resources and the social stigma attached to reporting neighbors.
Unknown Numbers and Difficulties in Estimation
The exact number of manatees hunted during droughts is unknown, but experts estimate that around 300 manatees were likely killed in the Piagaçu-Purus reserve in Amazonas state last year alone. Estimating the overall population of Amazonian manatees is a daunting task, as the vast and dark waters of the Amazon make it nearly impossible. However, there are signs of hope, with increasing numbers of baby manatees, or calves, being rescued over the past two to three decades.
The Cruel Reality of Poaching Tactics
Poachers often employ brutal tactics, such as capturing calves to lure their mothers. The bond between a mother and her calf is strong, with the young entirely dependent on the mother for up to two years. When the mother attempts to rescue her calf, she is killed, leaving the calf orphaned and with little chance of survival. “If calves are left alone, they have very little chance of surviving,” says Renata Emin, a biologist and president of the NGO Bicho D’Água.
Rescue Efforts and Community Engagement
Rescuing orphaned calves is crucial for preserving the Amazonian manatee population and the ecosystems they inhabit. As a sentinel species, manatees are highly vulnerable to environmental changes, and their decline signals broader ecosystem collapse. Conservationists are using a multi-faceted approach to protect these creatures, which includes rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned calves, monitoring populations, and educating communities on the importance of manatee conservation.
In Pará, where hunting is also a problem, Bicho D’Água is currently rehabilitating two calves, one of which was rescued with a flipper amputation likely caused by human activity. Across the state, 50 manatees are in rehabilitation—a significant number, according to Emin.
Rescuing newborn calves is relatively straightforward, but challenges arise when people mistakenly believe a calf is abandoned while the mother is hidden nearby. To address this, INPA and the Friends of the Manatee Association (AMPA) have launched campaigns to educate the public on how to avoid unnecessary rescues.
Challenges in Releasing Rehabilitated Manatees
Preparing rehabilitated manatees for release into the wild is another hurdle. The transition from captivity to freedom requires acclimatization in a river pen, where the manatees can learn to navigate tides, currents, and riverbeds. Manatees that are released without this crucial step often struggle to adapt to the wild. Currently, there is only one acclimatization enclosure in Santarém, Pará, but plans are underway to establish two more in Belém.
In Amazonas, AMPA, in collaboration with energy company Eletrobras Eletronorte and INPA, released five manatees into the Uatuma River in May. Since the program’s inception, 44 manatees have been returned to the wild, with more than 60 others in the process of reintroduction.
The Importance of Environmental Education
A significant part of the success in returning manatees to the wild is environmental education. AMPA conducts educational visits to schools in Manaus and riverside communities, promoting the protection of aquatic wildlife and fostering community responsibility. This engagement is crucial for ensuring the manatees’ survival.
Bicho D’Água also works closely with local communities, training them to administer first aid to orphaned calves—a vital skill given the vast distances and reliance on waterways for transport in the Amazon. “Social mobilization and community engagement are fundamental to the conservation of the species,” emphasizes Emin.
The Need for Stronger Government Support
While environmental education is essential, conservationists stress that it must be accompanied by robust government support. Recently, AMPA, INPA, and state environmental agencies in Amazonas met to strategize ways to better prepare for potential low water levels this year. Stronger law enforcement is also needed to deter poaching and protect the remaining manatees.
“The habit of consuming and trading game meat is a reality in the Amazon,” d’Affonseca says. “The lack of enforcement ends up encouraging people to kill manatees to sell their meat.”
In the face of these challenges, ongoing efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and educate are critical to ensuring the survival of the Amazonian manatee and the health of the ecosystems they call home.
