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Officials Tie Veracruz Manatee Death to Boat Strike

The case heightens pressure for full water studies during the Gulf oil spill.

Overview

  • The manatee, found Thursday in the Coatzacoalcos River near Villa Allende, was recovered by federal environmental officers for examination.
  • Municipal necropsy results say the female, about 4–5 years old and 3.53 meters long, died from asphyxia after two fractured ribs punctured a lung and caused severe internal bleeding.
  • The veterinarian who led the procedure said the findings show no link to hydrocarbons or the current oil conditions at sea.
  • A pelican was also found dead on the river’s coast that day, and six pelicans were reported dead earlier in the week in Atoyac, with causes not yet confirmed.
  • The death marks the third manatee loss reported this year in the region and has intensified local calls for comprehensive water-quality testing as a Gulf spill has affected more than 900 kilometers of shoreline.