| Baby Manatee Rescued at South Gallow's Point Reef |
| The rehabilitation team from Wildtracks has taken the baby calf, named "Island Puppy" by Lamby, to their facility near Sarteneja. Zoe Walker said the first 4 days will be critical to the manatee's survival. Island Puppy will be raised for two years in captivity and released into the Southern Lagoon where its movements and acclimation back into the wild can be monitored. Island Puppy has become a star of the Wildtracks facility in Sarteneja and is now called "Twiggy." Click the Wildtracks logo to check up the rescued baby manatee. |
| Mark Lammey and Island Puppy aka Shorelin aka Twiggy |
| Mark Lammey, Paul Walker & Jamal Galvez capturing Island Puppy |
| Paul Walker feeding Island Puppy |
| Baby Manatee Rescued at South Gallow's Point Reef |
| SEA SPORTS BELIZE |
| 83 North Front Street PO Box 1234 Belize City, Belize TEL: (501) 223-5505 Email: info@REMOVEseasportsbelize.com www.seasportsbelize.com |
On June 25, 2009 when our dive boat was going
to Heusner Caye for lunch they spotted a baby
manatee on the north side of the island.
Heusner Caye is located a mile inside the Belize
Barrier Reef at South Gallows, a popular
snorkeling sites for cruise ship passengers. The
baby manatee was first sighted by our dive crew
at 11:30 am. Our boat captain Paul Hyde called
the office to inform us about the sighting. Mark
Lamby, resident fisherman on the island,
monitored the manatee during the day and
noted that the mother was no where near the
calf. At 3:30 pm he called Linda Searle and said
that the manatee was still alone near the island.
Linda Searle contacted manatee researcher
Nicole Auil from Wildlife Trust and consulted
with her on what to do with the baby manatee.
Nicole said we would need to make sure that the
calf was lost before removing the manatee from
the water. Due to the long period of time that
the calf was not with its mother - about 4 hours -
it was determined that indeed somehow the two
had become separated.
A manatee rescue team was mobilized in Belize
City and included Jamal Galvez from the Coastal
Zone Management Authority & Institute, Zoe &
Paul Walker from Wildtracks, who have
successfully rehabilitated baby manatees, and
John Searle from Sea Sports Belize. Mark Lamby
assisted the manatee rescue team and actually
captured the manatee. A brief examination of
the manatee by the Walkers indicated that she
was a female manatee that was only a couple
weeks old and they commented that this was the
smallest one that they had seen. Due to her low
weight she appears to have been separated from
her mother for some time. There were also
several small scars on her tail and body. Upon
reaching Belize City the manatee was fed a small
amount of Pedialite and blood samples were
taken to determine health. It was a good sign
that she began feeding immediately.
to Heusner Caye for lunch they spotted a baby
manatee on the north side of the island.
Heusner Caye is located a mile inside the Belize
Barrier Reef at South Gallows, a popular
snorkeling sites for cruise ship passengers. The
baby manatee was first sighted by our dive crew
at 11:30 am. Our boat captain Paul Hyde called
the office to inform us about the sighting. Mark
Lamby, resident fisherman on the island,
monitored the manatee during the day and
noted that the mother was no where near the
calf. At 3:30 pm he called Linda Searle and said
that the manatee was still alone near the island.
Linda Searle contacted manatee researcher
Nicole Auil from Wildlife Trust and consulted
with her on what to do with the baby manatee.
Nicole said we would need to make sure that the
calf was lost before removing the manatee from
the water. Due to the long period of time that
the calf was not with its mother - about 4 hours -
it was determined that indeed somehow the two
had become separated.
A manatee rescue team was mobilized in Belize
City and included Jamal Galvez from the Coastal
Zone Management Authority & Institute, Zoe &
Paul Walker from Wildtracks, who have
successfully rehabilitated baby manatees, and
John Searle from Sea Sports Belize. Mark Lamby
assisted the manatee rescue team and actually
captured the manatee. A brief examination of
the manatee by the Walkers indicated that she
was a female manatee that was only a couple
weeks old and they commented that this was the
smallest one that they had seen. Due to her low
weight she appears to have been separated from
her mother for some time. There were also
several small scars on her tail and body. Upon
reaching Belize City the manatee was fed a small
amount of Pedialite and blood samples were
taken to determine health. It was a good sign
that she began feeding immediately.
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| Licensed Tour Operator and Tour Operator of the Year for 2005! |
| Licensed Tour Operator and Tour Operator of the Year for 2005! |