MIAMI (CBS4) – A West Indian manatee rescued in a residential canal in Boynton Beach Thursday is on the road to recovery Friday at the Miami Seaquarium.
The 9-foot-long, 1000 pound pregnant manatee was injured by boat propellers which cut deeply across her back and broke one of her ribs, causing infection and making it difficult for her to dive, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Manatees feed on the ocean’s bottom, so being able to dive is critical to their survival.
The FWC was alerted to the injured animal after it was seen near the Intracoastal Waterway. It took several hours to capture the manatee and take her for treatment in Miami.
She is now showing signs of improvement, thanks to veterinary care at the Seaquarium, although blood work still shows signs of infection.
To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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