Mysterious Manatee Found in Rhode Island Found Dead

It is our duty and responsibility as human beings to look after endangered species and ensure that we can help them to survive at all costs. We see a group of Rhode Islanders banding together to help a manatee before its unfortunate demise.

Manatee Found in Rhode Island

A manatee has been found dead offshore of between Prudence Island and Hog Island on Thursday afternoon, October 5, 2023. This manatee made its first appearance in Rhode Island back in September in the . It was reportedly the first manatee to be seen since 2010.

, the manager of the animal rescue program at Mystic Aquarium, had worked with various people and companies as to what they would do should the manatee be spotted again.

“We had everything lined up that we needed to for this manatee to come in for rehabilitation, even the food source,” Callan explained. “There were a couple local supermarkets that were willing to donate lettuce.”

However, the manatee was spotted for a second time on Thursday, October 5th, and by then, it was found dead. From looking at the animal, Callan assumed the manatee had been dead for several days.

The manatee was in a very decomposed state, and as such, it would be impossible for anyone to determine the reason for this manatee’s death.

“We are all so saddened,” .

This manatee is one of only six manatees that have been spotted since 1995, according to Callan. Which begs the question, where exactly do manatees live?

Where Do Manatees Live?

Manatees (Trichechus) of the family Trichechidae can be found in waters in both North and and in Africa. As you may have guessed, their population is very low and dwindling yearly. It is estimated there are only 25,000 manatees left.

They can most commonly be found in Flordia. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “Florida manatees are considered one of the state’s keystone species.” And there are approximately only . This has made their species to be reclassified from endangered to threatened status in Florida.

What do Manatees Eat?

Manatees are herbivore eaters, which means that they eat plant matter. They can be found eating things such as seagrass, algae, and flowers. Manatees can eat between in a single day!