Manatee Miracle: Young Bacuri Battles for Survival in the Amazon!

In the serene embrace of the CAXIUANA NATIONAL FOREST in Brazil, a group of children is utterly captivated by Bacuri, a juvenile Amazonian manatee, as he navigates a modest plastic pool. Their faces light up with broad smiles each time Bacuri pops up for air, accompanied by the gentle rustling of rainforest foliage and the distant chirps of birds, adding an enchanting layer to the experience.

These children, hailing from nearby riverside communities, embarked on a lengthy boat journey to the Ferreira Penna Scientific Base, part of the Emilio Goeldi Museum, Brazil’s most established Amazonian research institution. This visit is crucial as manatees, despite being endangered and illegally hunted for their meat, face increasing threats. Through local engagement programs like this, conservationists are hopeful that manatees like Bacuri will be protected from harm.

The Amazonian manatee holds the title of the largest mammal in the region, yet it remains elusive. This is due primarily to its sensitive hearing, which causes it to disappear into the depths at the slightest noise, and its significantly reduced numbers following centuries of excessive hunting for its durable hide, which was highly sought after in Europe and Central America.

Efforts to bolster the manatee population are in full swing, with various organizations dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and eventually reintroducing orphaned manatee calves back into their natural habitat.

The Journey of Bacuri

When Bacuri was found and brought to the protected Caxiuana National Forest, he weighed only 22 pounds (10 kilograms)—a mere fraction of the typical 900 pounds (400 kilograms) of a fully grown manatee. He was named after the community that discovered him. After consuming thousands of bottles of milk over two years, he now tips the scales at around 130 pounds (60 kilograms).

Three organizations collaboratively manage Bacuri’s upkeep. The Goeldi Museum provides the facility and educates the community, while the federal Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation assigns two staff members to rotate every 15 days, feeding Bacuri thrice daily and cleaning his pool bi-daily. Additionally, the non-profit Instituto Bicho d’Agua handles his veterinary needs, diet planning, and caregiver training.

During their visit, the children are informed about the reproductive cycle of manatees, which includes a year-long pregnancy followed by two years of nursing from nipples located behind their front flippers. They learn about the endangered status of manatees and receive a poignant reminder of their role as protectors of these gentle giants.

“You are the main guardians,” biologist Tatyanna Mariúcha, who leads the Ferreira Penna scientific base, emphasizes to the children, inspiring them to spend the day engaged in creative activities like drawing and modeling Play-Doh figures of Bacuri.

Empowering Local Communities

The research station, equipped with an auditorium, dormitories, observation towers, a cafeteria, and labs, stands in stark contrast to the simple, stilted wooden homes of nearby communities that rely on cassava farming, fishing, and açaí berry harvesting. By inviting schools and local groups, the station aims to bridge the knowledge gap.

“Caxiuana is their home,” Mariúcha explains to The Associated Press, highlighting the importance of community consent in conservation efforts. Local insights will be crucial when it’s time to release Bacuri. He will transition to a plant-based diet and spend time in a river enclosure to acclimate before being released at a site chosen with community input on manatee movement and feeding areas.

If successful, Bacuri will be the first manatee reintroduced in the Caxiuana region, following the unfortunate demise of two other calves in captivity, a frequent occurrence under such circumstances. Although subsistence hunting poses a minimal threat, illegal trade of manatee meat continues in some areas. Brazil’s 1967 wildlife hunting ban, with specific exceptions, aims to curb this practice.

The Influence of Climate Change

Miriam Marmontel, a senior researcher at the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, notes that climate change is complicating conservation efforts. Recent droughts led to the death of numerous dolphins and have altered water levels, increasing manatee vulnerability to poachers.

“As the climate crisis worsens, manatees might also start experiencing heat stress,” Marmontel warns, stressing the importance of reintroduction initiatives. These efforts are critical not only for the potential return of individual manatees to the wild but also for fostering community and governmental engagement.

Approximately 60 manatees are currently under rehabilitation across the state of Para. Bicho d’Agua, in collaboration with the Federal University of Para and Brazil’s environmental agency, cares for four of these, including Coral, a manatee rescued near Obidos and flown 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) for treatment of dehydration and severe sunburns.

“The drastic decline in population means every loss has a significant impact,” states Renata Emin, president of Bicho d’Agua. “That’s why every conservation effort is vital, not just for the potential benefits to the manatee population but also for the ripple effect of community and governmental involvement it generates.”