A manatee that used to have a GPS tracker on it is missing from the tracking monitors, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers said Saturday.
According to FWC’s Facebook post, Stokes is one of the manatees that wear a belt around their peduncle, a tether and a floating GPS radio tag. The scientists with the Sea to Shore Alliance monitor the manatees’ movements and conditions using that technology.
But people sometimes remove those tags and belts trying to “help” the manatees, according to FWC.
Right now Stokes, that was rescued and rehabbed from cold stress last December, is swimming around with just the belt. After being released in April, the manatee was traveling in the mouth of the St. Johns River and in the Ortega River.
If you happen to spot Stokes or any other manatee that appears in distress, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 1-888-404-3922 (or ?#?FWC and *FWC on your cell phone). Scientists hope to re-tag it and continue monitoring it.
Please don’t remove the equipment from other manatee you encounter.
Copyright WFLA 2015. All rights reserved.
