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Manatee catches Air Force flight to Puerto Rico

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bryan Gatewood
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Force officials partnered with specialists at the Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Florida Museum to transport an 840-pound male West Indian manatee, along with six biologists and two veterinarians, from here to San Juan, Puerto Rico Dec. 9.

Fish and Wildlife Service representatives contacted officials from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard's 156th Airlift Wing for assistance in transporting the manatee. A Puerto Rico ANG C-130 Hercules already was at MacDill supporting maneuvers for U.S. Special Operations Command. Air Force officials seized an opportune moment to provide support for this effort at no additional costs.

According to Dr. David Murphy, consulting veterinarian from the South Florida Museum, the sea mammal, called "UPC," is healthy, but requires special accommodations in a shallow containment area due to injuries sustained from a boat strike.

Biologist Dr. Antonio Mignucci-Giannoni added that the boat strike damaged UPC's diaphragm, causing the animal to be negatively buoyant which means it will sink if not in a shallow containment area.

UPC received its name because the injuries made by the boat strike look like a barcode.

Researchers at the Caribbean Stranding Network in Puerto Rico are interested in UPC as part of their efforts toward manatee conservation. The West Indian manatee currently is listed under the Endangered Species Act. UPC will serve as a surrogate parent to orphaned manatees in rehabilitation. UPC soon will have a new life at the Puerto Rico Zoo and a new name, Guacara.