amid drought

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