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Manatees return to Colorado River, say park rangers |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
A report from the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge* says that park rangers recorded a group of three manatees swimming in the waters of the Colorado River* in the northern Caribbean zone. "The manatees have been seen alone, in pairs or in groups of no more than 6. In general, the social unit is constituted by the mother and her baby," said the rangers in its report. "It's the strongest link between two animals." These animals can be considered as semi-social beings, but the members of a group of animals meet in such a way that they are segmented according to their age and sex, so it is possible to observe groups of only of males or only females. According to experts, manatees are animals whose routine consists mainly of rest and the search for food. The Caribbean manatee is a mammal and herbivore adapted to aquatic life, with a fusiform body and limbs converted into fins modified to propel itself in water. In Central America, adults can reach 3 meters in length and about 500 kilograms in weight. Fusiform body means having a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends. The manatee is one of the most threatened mammals in Costa Rica listed as endangered. The manatee is the symbol of the marine fauna for the country. On June 8, 2016, the Tortuguero National Park* in the North Caribbean zone was declared a natural sanctuary for the conservation of the Antillean manatee. Another unusual visitor was a baby sea lion rescued in Guanacaste on Monday. As A.M. Costa Rica reported, the park rangers of the Las Baulas National Marine Park* rescued a baby sea lion on the coast of the park. Park rangers report that the animal probably was been dragged towards the rocks by the strong waves, "given the health conditions the animal had, we captured and coordinated with the authorities of the Marine Park for its transfer and medical attention." It appears that the baby lion had arrived on the beach alone, because no signs of other adult sea lions were seen in the area. The sea lion’s range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean. In April another a sea lion was seen in Malpaís Beach* in Puntarenas. A group of tourists shared a video on social networks showing the moment when the animal left the sea to stay on the rocks. According to specialists, sea lions are always near the coast and prefer colder waters over tropical waters, which is why it is not common to see one in Costa Rican seas. The coastguards reports that a few sea lions arriving in Costa Rica have been recorded in Golfito* and Corcovado National Park*, Jaco Beach* and now Las Baulas. According World Wildlife Fund, six species of sea lions are classified around the world: California, Steller, Australia, Galapagos, New Zealand, and South America. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on ocean currents, which impact the abundance of their prey fish. ------------- Have you ever seen a manatee in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com |
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