This is the first time in Mexico that manatee specimens are bred in captivity since in other conservation centers in the south of the country they remain in their natural environment.
A pair of manatees arrived this Thursday at their new home at the zoo in the city of Guadalajara, capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco (west), as part of a captive conservation program for this endangered species.
Claudia and Lorenzo, a six-year-old female and a seven-year-old male, were brought from the state of Quintana Roo (southeastern Mexico) to stay in an area of the zoo’s aquarium that was adapted to the characteristics of their habitat so that they can survive.
“They are animals that are used to the presence of people because since they were born they have been in contact with them, and they have adapted here at an impressive speed. They are shy animals with a slow metabolism, which require high temperatures, because they live in hot climates, “Roberto Sánchez, a manatee veterinarian, told Efe.
Also read: Suicide attack at Kabul airport leaves at least 95 dead
Manatee is herbivorous mammals that live in estuaries, lagoons and adapt to both fresh and saltwater. Its gray color and its large size are two of its attractions. They reproduce every two years and have only one young.
As they are threatened by human predation, they require reproduction under human care to conserve the species and, above all, that people know them to help in their conservation, explained Sánchez.
Although now they are both teenagers, the idea is that Claudia and Lorenzo can reproduce in a few more years under the supervision of specialists from the Guadalajara zoo.
“They are adolescents and at some point they will reach sexual maturity and for them to reproduce here it would not be difficult at all, we would have to plan very well and know what the final destination is, we are talking about an endangered species and many instances are involved,” said the specialist .
TRAVEL BY PRIVATE PLANE
This is the first time in Mexico that manatee specimens are bred in captivity, since in other conservation centers in the south of the country they remain in their natural environment, the director of the Guadalajara zoo, Luis Soto, told Efe.
Also read: Pastor dies after being buried alive, he wanted to resurrect like Jesus Christ
He said that to bring them to Guadalajara, the zoo made an agreement with the Dolphin Discovery company that has a breeding program in Quintana Roo and that was in charge of their transfer, which was originally scheduled for 2020 but was delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Claudia and Lorenzo traveled in a plane destined only for them that flew from the port of Cancun to Acapulco and then to Guadalajara, always under the supervision of their caretakers and some 40 specialists.
Upon arriving at the zoo, the two specimens were greeted by a large freshwater pond and a heating system to conserve moisture. Visitors to the zoo can watch their movements from a large stained glass window placed at the bottom of the pond.
THE DOLPHIN COMPANY Y EL ZOOLÓGICO GUADALAJARA UNEN ESFUERZOS EN PRO DE LA CONSERVACIÓN DEL MANATÍ ANTILLANO
Los manatíes en cuestión son un macho de nombre Lorenzillo de 8 años nacido en Puerto Aventuras y una hembra Claudia de 6 años de Isla Mujeres
👉https://t.co/26TDrQL5hF pic.twitter.com/vvefRoBiSO
— Revista Brújula #QuédateEnCasa (@ProyectoBrujula) August 27, 2021
