280
11.7 Health Status
Knowledge on the health of populations of T. manatus in South America comes
mainly from animals rescued after stranding and/or bycatch, maintained in captivity
for rehabilitation and release purposes or for display in zoos and aquariums (Fig. 11.6).
Although there are records of maintenance of the species in captivity since the late
nineteenth century in Brazil and Guyana, rescue activities were established only in the
1980s in most South American countries (Adimey et al. 2012; Lima et al. 2001).
Currently, there are about 11 institutions holding captive manatees in the continent, in
Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia, serving different purposes (Adimey et al.
2012; Carlos Javier Silva, personal communication; Carvalho and Borges 2016).
In Guyana and Suriname, there are current and historical records of manatees
maintained in captivity for the control of aquatic vegetation from irrigation canals,
without assessing the risk of this activity for the health of the animals. Dozens of
manatees were captured in these countries and sent to aquariums and zoos in Europe
and Asia, where they participated in breeding programs (Adimey et al. 2012; Dekker
1974; Haigh 1991). We emphasize the serious concern about these crossbreedings
between animals from different populations, even under the control of studbooks,
since recent studies indicate that the population from Guyana to Brazil represents a
distinct significant evolutionary unit from the Caribbean population and the region
of origin of these animals, west of the mouth of the Amazon River, is a hybridization
zone (Santos et al. 2016).
Fig. 11.6 A 2-year old manatee calf (named “Tico”) in the management area of a rehabilitation
tank of Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Centre/Aquasis, in Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The stranding of newborn calves is a serious problem in the country. Natural and human-related causes are
involved in the separation of females and their offspring (Photo: Aquasis’ Collection)
A.C.O. de Meirelles et al.
11.7 Health Status
Knowledge on the health of populations of T. manatus in South America comes
mainly from animals rescued after stranding and/or bycatch, maintained in captivity
for rehabilitation and release purposes or for display in zoos and aquariums (Fig. 11.6).
Although there are records of maintenance of the species in captivity since the late
nineteenth century in Brazil and Guyana, rescue activities were established only in the
1980s in most South American countries (Adimey et al. 2012; Lima et al. 2001).
Currently, there are about 11 institutions holding captive manatees in the continent, in
Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia, serving different purposes (Adimey et al.
2012; Carlos Javier Silva, personal communication; Carvalho and Borges 2016).
In Guyana and Suriname, there are current and historical records of manatees
maintained in captivity for the control of aquatic vegetation from irrigation canals,
without assessing the risk of this activity for the health of the animals. Dozens of
manatees were captured in these countries and sent to aquariums and zoos in Europe
and Asia, where they participated in breeding programs (Adimey et al. 2012; Dekker
1974; Haigh 1991). We emphasize the serious concern about these crossbreedings
between animals from different populations, even under the control of studbooks,
since recent studies indicate that the population from Guyana to Brazil represents a
distinct significant evolutionary unit from the Caribbean population and the region
of origin of these animals, west of the mouth of the Amazon River, is a hybridization
zone (Santos et al. 2016).
Fig. 11.6 A 2-year old manatee calf (named “Tico”) in the management area of a rehabilitation
tank of Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Centre/Aquasis, in Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The stranding of newborn calves is a serious problem in the country. Natural and human-related causes are
involved in the separation of females and their offspring (Photo: Aquasis’ Collection)
A.C.O. de Meirelles et al.