A year of Bui

Her mother slaughtered for food, and herself being transported in an ice box to be sold at a market, fate seemed grim for the young manatee calf. But a surprise fish inspection by the environmental police saved her, and brought her into our lives.

Thanks to the efforts of caretaker Ingrid Bustos, and thanks to the financial and technical support from the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, the Columbus Zoo, the Georgia Aquarium, and the National University of the Peruvian Amazon (UNAP), Bui is growing healthy and happy, she weighs 55kg as of today. The Rainforest Awareness Rescue and Education Center is privileged to care for her, as she grows strong enough to go back to the wild, so she can help replenish the wild population of Amazonian manatees.

Named after philanthropist Bui Simon, of Angels Wings International, our Bui is an inspiration to all of us at RAREC, and a reminder that we can make things better. Our little manatee calf is nothing short of a miracle, and a driving force for all of us at the RAREC family, to continue to do our best efforts to protect all wildlife in the Peruvian Amazon.

RAREC was able to give Bui that second chance at life, fully aware that her story is not unique. Only by combining our rescue efforts with education and awareness campaigns, will we be able to make the difference that we need to protect the Amazonian manatee. We need to change the mindset of the people, we need to change their views on wildlife, we need to make a change in the Rainforest, and we need to make that change now!

You can help Bui and all our rescued animals by purchasing a Bui keychain. Locally made by the mothers of our neighboring Amazon communities, all proceeds go directly to funding RAREC's conservation efforts in the Peruvian Rainforest. They are only $10, and they make great gifts! To purchase one, please send us a note on Facebook, or send an e-mail to rarec.center.adm@gmail.com