The Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) in Tabasco reported that 13 manatee deaths have been recorded in the state so far this year, as part of the agency’s ongoing monitoring of the species.
Mayra Cecilia Villagómez de los Santos, the agency’s acting head, explained that the institution maintains statistical records of deceased animals and responds to public reports concerning manatees and other species.
“Yes, we do indeed keep a record of the mortality rate; we receive reports and respond to cases of manatee deaths and other animals that are reported to us,” she noted.
The official detailed that PROFEPA has data compiled since 2018, a year that saw one of the highest numbers of deaths among these aquatic mammals in Tabasco.
“We have been tracking statistics since 2018. This year, we have recorded 13 deaths. Compared to 2018—when we saw a high mortality rate—we are well below those figures,” she specified.
Regarding the possible causes of death and whether they are linked to factors such as water pollution, Villagómez de los Santos indicated that there is no single reason explaining the loss of these animals.
“The reality is that the causes are multifactorial, ranging from social issues to environmental factors,” she concluded.
The acting head of PROFEPA emphasized that monitoring of the species continues through surveillance efforts and by responding to reports received from various parts of the state.
Source: tabascohoy
