00:00The manatee continues to struggle to survive despite being under threat for more than half a century.
00:05Dangers have continued to surround him.
00:08Collisions with boats, loss of habitat due to pollution and urban development
00:12Hunting for its meat and fat keeps this species in a vulnerable situation.
00:19On International Manatee Day, attention was once again focused on an urgent question.
00:24What are we doing to prevent it from disappearing?
00:26More than 53 years after it was declared an endangered species by the U.S. Department of the Interior
00:33Joined
00:33and listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2023,
00:40Its survival remains closely linked to the way humans inhabit, use, and protect nature.
00:50Talking about the manatee is also talking about the health of aquatic ecosystems.
00:54Its disappearance would not only affect one species, but also the balance of the waters it shares with other animals and
01:01which we also depend on.
01:03At El Espectador we learned about the main manatee conservation center in the Caribbean,
01:09where researchers, veterinarians, biologists and volunteers work daily on the rescue, care and protection of these mammals and
01:17of other species,
01:18with a mission that goes far beyond saving animals, to conserve the ecosystem of which we are all a part.
01:25The Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center in Puerto Rico is part of an international network created in 2024.
01:33This network brings together researchers, organizations, governments, and communities to share information, experiences, and strategies
01:41that help conserve the Caribbean and South American manatee and protect its habitats in more than 20
01:47countries.
01:50Well, the manatee itself is not only in Puerto Rico, it is in many parts of the world.
01:55Here on our island it is in danger of extinction, there are around 300 to 600 manatees.
02:01This species has remained constantly at risk because it reproduces slowly,
02:06having a reproductive cycle of around 12 to 13 months.
02:11Additionally, the young are completely dependent on their mothers until they are two years old.
02:16who in turn only give birth to one offspring per pregnancy
02:20and they need a long recovery time to reproduce again.
02:27We have an animal like the manatee that has a slow reproduction rate,
02:30It's a manatee, more or less, so it can get pregnant.
02:33It takes 3 to 4 years depending on how long the reproductive cycle was.
02:38Or to reach that reproductive adulthood it needs 8, 9, 10 years,
02:42that females take a long time to reach reproductive maturity.
02:45The existence of these endocrine disruptors makes it easier for these animals not to reproduce in time.
02:51And that's obviously for a population that is in danger,
02:54For example, if we talk about Puerto Rico, which is a very small population,
02:57It prevents us from being able to increase the survival rate.
03:00or decrease the extinction rate locally.
03:04The primary issue is negligence regarding navigation,
03:07both personal watercraft such as jet skis and boats themselves,
03:11the yachts, the small boats,
03:14because people here in Puerto Rico often don't respect
03:17the speed limits in that area
03:18or even direct contact with the animal.
03:22The manatee is an animal that will become attached to a specific person.
03:26because the reality is that he doesn't know any specific people,
03:29but it does recognize the human form.
03:31And when we interact with them in their natural habitat,
03:35how to feed them, give them water, or play with them,
03:37because they get used to them.
03:39This allows them to get closer to the boats,
03:42to the jet skis and end up getting hurt.
03:44We're seeing a lot of hunting-related topics.
03:49Unfortunately, it's sad because we can't make decisions and say
03:53Oh, please don't marry them anymore!
03:54Because there are sociocultural contexts, there is hunger.
03:57But there are also cultural issues that compel us in one way or another.
04:01to the people who consume this animal as part of their culture.
04:03But the problem in Colombia is often the remoteness of the places.
04:07where things happen.
04:08For example, we sometimes receive reports,
04:10Last week we received a report of a death near the Barbacoas area.
04:14between Antioquia and Santander.
04:17It's a very inhospitable area to reach; it takes three days by boat.
04:21so it somewhat limits the ability to take action or talk to those communities.
04:25We are coordinating with the different groups,
04:27But education, if it is not sustained, does not work.
04:31Manatees help maintain the balance of aquatic ecosystems
04:36because they feed on plants, grasses, and algae,
04:39preventing them from growing too large and reducing oxygen,
04:43block sunlight or take up space from other species.
04:46In addition, they provide nutrients that benefit other animals.
04:50Therefore, protecting them helps to conserve biodiversity
04:54and to help ecosystems function better and adapt to climate change.
04:59Its importance lies in its food.
05:03The manatee is, we could call it, the gardener of the waters.
05:07Their endangered status leads to a much greater amount of sargassum.
05:11and problems with seaweed on our beaches,
05:14So they are in charge of controlling that seagrass population.
05:18and aquatic plants on our beaches.
05:20The warning is clear.
05:22Protecting the manatee doesn't just mean saving a species,
05:26It means protecting the ecosystems on which our own lives also depend.
05:31If you would like to read other news about the environment and biodiversity,
05:36Don't forget to visit the Espectador website
05:38and follow us on all our social media channels.
Comentarios