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Last night we had a rare look at a manatee mating herd along the Belize City coastline: about 20 male manatees, relentless in their pursuit of a single female. The mating frenzy wasn’t pretty, but that’s how it happens in nature. Â Sadly, this morning we found out that she didn’t make it. Â The female was found dead along the seawall about 150 feet south of where we saw the gathering yesterday. Â Residents say that the violent thrashing from the males continued until about 6:00 pm, which is when she started to weaken. Â Shortly after, she showed no signs of life – which didn’t immediately stop the males either. 

We went out there with Jamal Galvez this morning:

Jamal Galvez - Sea to Shore Manatee Pgm Coordinator
"Yesterday, I left here ecstatic and an excited person, as you saw yesterday with what was happening, to see that there is a possible to see that we'd have manatee back in the population once this process was continued or finished. But, it's the nature of the beast, Jules, it's not something that we can control. That's just a way of life for them, and it's unfortunate because, as you know, their reproduction cycle, and the problem that they already have with their reproduction cycle. That hinders the population with these kind of complications that these animals have to deal with, that adds to it, and adding to it what we as human beings bring on the population, it's sad to actually witness this, or to actually see this, especially after yesterday, but it's out of our control."

Jules Vasquez
"The resident here, he called yesterday at around 6 saying that they'll kill her because he saw that she was tiring, and they were relentless. But in a situation like that, was there anything you could have done?"

Jamal Galvez
"I personally which there was something that I could have done, Jules. But, as you have seen yesterday how determined these guys were. We were right there standing, and they weren't bothered, and these are shy animals. They weren't bothered by us at all. I wouldn't intervene, first of all, because it's the nature. That's there life; I shouldn't intervene or try - even if I tried chasing them away, or to go - they'll go somewhere else and continue with the process. There is nothing that I could have stopped this. Studies show that it has worked for them for years, but they have incidents - just like in human being - they may have complications during pregnancy. It's sad that we now have another dead manatee, which the last thing that I would want to see or hear about with the amount that we have had in the last couple of months now. This is probably the 14th so far for this year, and we're only 6 months into the year, so it's not good news at all. As you see, we've lost out on 2 or 3 animals with this one, because with this one giving birth, it could have been 2 more to the population."

Jules Vasquez
"It doesn't seem like a functional way to propagate a species. Is this right?"

Jamal Galvez
"By our standards, it wouldn't be right. By our beliefs, it wouldn't be right. But, by manatee standards, and by their way of life, it's considered fair game. It's just the nature of their mating herd. It's very aggressive. Everybody wants to get in on it, and none is considerate about the female. They're not courting or being gentle. That's just the way it is, and it's unfortunate. This animal may have died from exhaustion or maybe even drowning because imagine 3 or 4 animals at 1,000 pounds each trying to get unto you in water, and you're unable to keep your head above water. It makes it complicated for the female."

Galvez performed a necropsy, which showed that she had water in her lungs, so most likely she was drowned under the crushing weight of one of the male manatees. 

And while this frenzy is over, still, boaters are reminded that the summer months are known for manatee mating herds, so those moving along the Belize City coastline, should still exercise caution.