The Omacha Foundation
Colombia, South America
is caring for a male Amazonian
manatee calf orphan and they need your help. Updates are posted as they are sent to me.
Latest news is at top of page. Please respond directly to Timothy Ross and Sarita Kendall at:
Update...
From Sarita Kendall, The Omacha Foundation
Leticia, Colombia, 20th February 2002
On February 8th 2002 Airuwe, an Amazonian manatee
aged 3 years 8 months, was returned to the wild by the
Omacha Foundation and the community of Puerto Nari�o.
Airuwe was released in the Tarapoto lake system in the
Colombian Amazon, close to well-established manatee
feeding areas. He was captured in a net near Puerto
Nari�o in mid 1998 and wounded by fishermen, then
transferred to the Omacha Foundation. The Foundation
fed, cared for and rehabilitated Airuwe with a view to
reintroduction and he became the focus of a manatee
conservation campaign in the region.
Airuwe was examined by Marcia Picanco, a Brazilian
veterinarian, before release and found to be in good
health. He was fitted with a belt-mounted transmitter
donated by the Instituto Mamirau� (Brazil) and is
being tracked by a team of local fishermen and former
manatee hunters. During the first ten days after
release he moved back and forth through channels in
the flooded forest to nearby lakes, returning close to
the release point. Freshly chewed aquatic grasses and
plants were found near his main resting place.
We would like to thank all the people who have helped
us with the difficult but satisfying task of bringing
up and reintroducing an Amazonian manatee, in
particular veterinarians Greg Bossart and Marcia
Picanco, Miriam Marmontel of the Instituto Mamirau�,
Jim Reid and Bob Bonde of the Sirenia Project, Salud
Colpatria, the Columbus Zoo, Save the Manatee Club,
Corpoamazonia (Leticia), Fauna and Flora
International, the British Embassy Bogot�, Jim Valade,
Antonio Mignucci, Ruby Montoya, Timothy Ross and
Elizabeth Kendall. The rehabilitation and release of Airuwe would have
been impossible without the collaboration of so many
in the Puerto Nari�o area, especially Gonzaga Mu�oz,
Luis Mu�oz, Zoe Velosa, Alberto Lozada, Sara Bennet,
Mauricio Laureano, Geronimo Laureano, Angel Pe�a,
Casimiro Ahu�, Misael Ahu�, Demetrio Silva, Pedro
Ahu�, Lucio Ahuanari, Filandro Paima and all the other
fishermen who supported us in this venture.
Update...
28 September 2000
From: Sarita Kendall
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2000 11:43 AM
Airuwe is now weaned and living in
a small artificial lake behind the Omacha field station. He is over 2 metres
long and 2 yrs 3 months old, eating lots of water hyacinth and floating
pasture. We are evaluting his behaviour, especially in relation to humans,
and have incorporated local manatee hunters into this process so that it
will be a joint decision when and where to return him to the wild.
All the best,
Sarita Kendall
Update...
3 May 1999
From: Sarita Kendall
Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 21:06:52 -0500
Airuwe is in good shape - that is, very round. He measures about 140cm and
weighs nearly 60 kilos. He's in the pool alongside the field station, built
with funding from Save the Manatee Club. A student has started her thesis on
behaviour with him. He is being very slow to eat solid food - still takes
very little in but spends a great deal of time munching the grasses.
There is another calf in Leticia now, a very small female at a half way
holding station managed by the military. We are advising them on feeding,
care etc.
Colombia is in dire financial straits so if you have any ideas on funding,
they'd be gratefully received.
Best wishes,
Sarita
Update...
11 Nov 1998
From: Sarita Kendall
"...Thanks for your message re the web site -- no, we haven't had anything for
the last couple of months. I have been able to get some help with the food
etc. for Airuwe and Save the Manatee Club has given us funding for a small
pool which we're building. Airuwe is now 117cm long on the curve and weighs
28kilos; he is doing very well..."
Update...
1 Nov 1998
From: Timothy Ross
"I talked to Sarita last week by phone -- Airuw� is eating more,
approx, 1,200cc per feed, gaining weight, girth and length quite
satisfactorily, and is now so heavy that Sarita can scarcely pick him up.
Samples tested in the Miami Seaquarium lab showed normal blood work.
Behaviorally, he displays interest in feed times, because he likes the
food or the attention, or both..."
Update...
7 Sep 1998
From: Sarita Kendall, Omacha Foundation
"Enclosed are pix of Airuw�, the manatee calf. The main point at the moment is to ensure
that he gains weight, and your donation will help towards that goal. Otherwise he's going fine...
Meanwhile, many thanks..."
Update...
28 Aug 1998
From: Sarita Kendall, Omacha Foundation
"many many thanks for your donation -- it will buy milk for the manatee,
which is what he needs most at the moment. A specialist vet from the Miami
Seaquarium (Greg Bossart) came to see him last week-end and found him
generally OK but low in weight so we have to devote our efforts to giving
him as many feeds as possible a day and putting on the pounds. Then
eventually we plan to free him. At the moment he is the centre of attention
in the Amazon community and all the children are able to see their first
live manatee. He has three slaves looking after him and seems to enjoy
life. Once again, thank you for contributing...
With very best wishes,
Sarita Kendall, Fundacion Omacha"
Update...
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:04:35 -0400
From: Timothy Ross
Subject: manatees
To: Caryn Self Sullivan
Many thanks -- if you would like to add that the manatee calf is
gaining weight adequately, and receives 4 to 5 bottle feeds a day, trying
to vary the person feeding so that he does not develop individual human
attachments which could impede his eventual return to a wild manatee group.
Best,
Timothy
Original call for help reposted from Marmam:
My name is Ruby Montoya. I am writing on
behalf of The Omacha Foundation, a non-profit organization based on
Colombia. The Omacha Foundation work on conservation, education and
research of marine mammal in the Amazon. They have an emergency. The
Foundation Omacha rescued two young Amazonian manatees.
The first animal was rescued in July 2. The Caribbean Stranding Network
immediately sent a rehabilitation protocol. The animal is a male, with 107
cm of length and approximately 20 kg of weight. Currently the animal is
improving, he is receiving 800 ml of milk preparation every day and he
increased 2.5 pounds during the last week of July. The second animal was
recently rescued on July 30th in the border with Peru, and it is in very
bad condition. The animal looks malnourished and has "fungal-like"
infections all over its body.
The Foundation Omacha does not have a pool or any rehabilitation
equipment. They are taking care of the manatees in a small earthen pond.
Foundation members need wets suits (even used or old ones) to
properly care for the animals. They are running out of funds for milk and
medicines to take care of the animals. Any help, medicines, money, or
equipment donation (even if it is used and old) would be immensely
appreciated.
You may contact Timothy, Omacha Foundation, in Bogota for further details
at [email protected]
Thank you very much for your help in this matter,
Sincerely,
Ruby Montoya
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