Manatee exploring RI waters since September is probably dead
The Rhode Island manatee has probably died, according to Mystic Aquarium, which has been keeping tabs on the marine mammal since it was spotted in Quonochontaug Pond early last month.
On Thursday evening, a boater spotted a dead manatee floating between Prudence Island and Hog Island, according to Sarah Callan, who manages the animal rescue program at Mystic Aquarium.
"We can't confirm it is the one," said Callan, adding that the condition of the corpse makes it impossible to identify a distinctive part on the manatee's paddle.
As water temperatures have fallen below the 68 degrees that manatees find comfortable, Mystic Aquarium was ready to act. "We had everything in place for a rescue," said Callan. It then would have stayed at the aquarium until it was ready to be flown to Florida.
Callan said scientists are still interested in getting another look at the manatee, so anyone who sees it should call the aquarium's animal rescue hotline at 860-572-5955, Ext. 107, preferably as soon as it's spotted, either floating in the water or washed up on shore.
Another factor that makes it difficult to confirm the manatee seen floating off Prudence Island is the manatee that has been traveling around Rhode Island: a couple of days ago, there was an unconfirmed manatee sighting near Weekapaug.
The famous manatee had last been sighted Sept. 18 in the Warren River.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Manatee exploring RI coast has died according to Mystic Aquarium
