Rosie, our largest rehab manatee.
She came in suffering massive trauma just over four months ago, after being hit by a boat. She's massive - about 3 meters long, and has been slowly improving, first boobing on the surface (lung issues were preventing her from diving), then developing an interest in food (it's amazing how much seagrass and water hyacinth she can get through!), and this week... she has managed to stay under the water for ten to fifteen minutes at a time!!She may only do it two or three times a day, but for those who knew her when she first came in, this is a massive advance towards her potential for release back into Belize's waters!
This is pool cleaning time - each day we drain and refill the pool to keep the water fresh...we have an amazing team of volunteers who provide day to day care for these and the other rehab animals at Wildtracks...
Photograph by WIldtracks
Update.... RUbie passed away... Good bye "Rosie" you will be sadly missed by all of us!
This is one of those very sad times for those of us who spend our lives trying to undo the horrible things that humans do do to our precious manatees. Everytime one dies after I have bonded and cared for it, it hurts and I think that I'm in the wrong business. you did all that could be done as well as Paul and Zoe. She was a precious soul somewhere in Manatee Heaven she put up a good fight, but with any trauma to the lungs, well some, even with a fighting spirit, cannot overcome what a selfish human driving his boat too fast, has accomplished. with love to you and all rehabers, I write this.
Click here to comment on this picture.
Belize Slideshow
Other Belizean "Pictures of the Day":
San Pedro Daily