The Ministry of Public Works and Environment confirmed the death of the mammal which was found in Harrington Sound, more than 1,000 miles away from its natural habitat
BAMZ staff recover the manatee from Harrington Sound. Photos: The Ministry of Public Works and Environment
The search for the locally dubbed, Morgan the Manatee, has come to and end.
BAMZ have confirmed the recovery of a dead manatee from Harrington Sound after it was spotted earlier this month.
The Minister of Public Works and Environment said maritime operations reported a sighting of the carcass and BAMZ Staff responded immediately and, unfortunately, found the animal deceased near Trinity Church in Harrington Sound.
The mammal was recovered and taken to a secure location for a post-mortem examination. A spokesperson said initial findings confirmed the manatee was male and severely emaciated.
A healthy adult manatee can weigh around 1,000 lbs; this animal weighed approximately 550 lbs.
A spokesperson said: “Following the initial sighting on 5 August, staff conducted searches by boat and drone over two consecutive days. When those searches did not locate the animal, the team continued monitoring reports from the public and responded to sightings where possible.
“Manatees can be difficult to detect from the surface because of their slow movement, colouration and limited time above water.”
Officials say manatees are not native to the island, more than 1,000 miles outside its natural habitat combined with limited access locally to its primary food source and fresh water, may have contributed to its poor condition.
Environment officials will determine a cause of death after samples sent overseas for analysis.
