Newt the Manatee

January 28th, 2023

A 2-month-old manatee calf arrived yesterday at our Center. We praise the Wildlife Authorities of the Amazon for their swift response and rapid action.

The local fishing community accidentally caught him along the Amazon River, and realised he was alone, with no mom in sight. It's possible his mother fell victim to poaching. And this was the reason they found him bobbing around their nets. Manatee calves need to drink milk from their mothers until they are around 2 years old. Thankfully, because of the fast reaction of the district and our authorities (DIREPRO) in responding to local fisherman distress calls, this little boy stands a chance of surviving.

It's wonderful to count with Worldwide Vets volunteers Jackie, Cristina, Martina, Marlene, and Eleonora, who arrived just this weekend, and are diving right in with our team, learning about manatee medical management and care.

When our manatee calf, Newt, arrived, he had a number of wounds to his fins and tail. We believe these were caused by his capture from the net used. The three photos on the left show what they looked like when he arrived.

After 2 and a half months with daily cleaning and treatment, they are looking great! The three photos on the right were taken last week to compare his progress.

On World Wildlife Day 2023, we are excited to announce that with the help of Save The Manatee Club, our new baby manatee has been named 'Olivia Newton-John' with the nickname 'Newt'! We are honored to name our rescued calf after the late Olivia Newton-John and her husband, who both dedicated their lives to supporting wildlife conservation and protecting our planet's natural resources.

World Wildlife Day is a global celebration of the many beautiful and diverse forms of wildlife that inhabit our planet. It is a day to raise awareness about the challenges facing these species and to encourage action to protect them and their habitats. At RAREC, we are committed to this cause, and we believe that by working together, we can make a difference in the lives of these incredible creatures.

We encourage everyone to support wildlife conservation projects and donate to charities that are working to protect these precious animals. We would also like to remind you that we accept volunteers at RAREC and always need a helping hand.

Newt the Manatee in Rehabilitation Process

We are excited to announce that we have received a generous donation of Milk Matrix 33/40 formula from Donna and Jim Hudson for our newly rescued baby manatee here at RAREC, in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest.

Donna's contribution will make a significant impact on the health and well-being of our baby manatee. We are grateful for their support and kindness in helping us provide the essential care required for the successful rehabilitation and eventual release of this precious animal back into the wild.

As our baby manatee will require formula for the following two years, we will be needing more vitamins, Isomil human non-lactose baby formula (Similac Soy Milk), and more Milk Matrix 33/40. Please find our Amazon wishlist link, and consider contributing to our efforts to protect and conserve the amazing wildlife of the Amazon Rainforest.