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Tiny manatee found in Laguna Milagros a year ago nearing release

Chetumal, Q.R. — A young manatee that was found left behind by its mother last year continues to recover. The tiny male was rescued from Laguna Milagros in Huay Pix, in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco in August of last year.

When found, he was 100 centimeters long and weighed 18.5 kilograms. Now, Pompeyo, as he’s been named, is more than 1.4 meters long and 58 kilos. He has been in the continued care of personnel at the Center for Care and Rehabilitation of Aquatic Mammals.

Staff at the Centro de Atención y Rehabilitación de Mamíferos Acuáticos say Pompeyo is “in excellent physical condition and is very active.”

His name was chosen by a seven-year-old Chetumal student during a contest to name the baby manatee. Pompeyo was named after Vice Admiral Othón Pompeyo Blanco Núñez de Cáceres, founder of the city of Chetumal.

Manatee Pompeyo will be released back into the wild once he is fully recovered.