By Gabriella Borter
NAPLES, Fla. (Reuters) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened an investigation into the harassment of a manatee found in a Florida river with the word “Trump” written on its back, the agency confirmed on Monday.
The West Indian manatee, a species classified as “threatened” under U.S. wildlife protection laws, was found on Sunday in the headwaters of the Homosassa River on the state’s west coast, about 100 miles (160 km) west of Orlando.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the manatee did not appear to be seriously injured.
The Citrus County Chronicle published a video showing an underwater view of the slow-moving mammal, with the word “Trump” written in big letters. How the letters were written was not immediately clear. It was also not clear if the act was meant to bring attention to President Donald Trump, a Florida resident.
The Tucson, Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said it was offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.
Harassment of manatees is a federal offense punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or up to one year in prison.
Manatees, nicknamed “sea cows,” are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Strikes by boats are the top cause of death for the mammal; but loss of habitat, algae blooms and disease also threaten them. There are more than 6,300 manatees in Florida, up from about 1,267 in 1991.
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Federal wildlife officials in Florida are reportedly seeking information on the perpetrators of an attack on a manatee, which apparently had the word “Trump” scraped into its back.
The attack on the animal was reported by the Citrus County Chronicle, which showed a picture of the large aquatic mammal with the name of the US president clearly visible by being etched into its skin.
“The US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the harassment of a manatee,” the paper said, adding that the manatee had been videoed in the Blue Hole spring, on the Homosassa River in the state.
Authorities were appealing for any and all information on who might have assaulted the manatee.
Large, gray and docile, manatees are popular attractions in Florida, though their numbers are at risk due to habitat loss and the danger of boat strikes.
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