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    Ecology, distribution, harvest, and conservation of the Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunguis, in Ecuador

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    Issue Date
    1986
    Author
    Timm, Robert M.
    Albuja V., Luis
    Clauson, Barbara L.
    Publisher
    Biotropica
    Type
    Article
    Article Version
    Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Recientes sumarios de la distribución de los manaties amazónicos Trichechus inunguis registran especimenes de la mayor parte de la cuenca amazónica en Brasil, el oriente de Peru, y el suroriente de Colombia, pero no de Ecuador. Durante octubre y noviembre de 1983 nosotros fuimos en busca de manaties en los sistemas de los rios Aguarico y Cuyabeno de la Provincia del Napo, Ecuador oriental. Aqui documentamos la existencia de manaties amazónicos en Ecuador, proveemos estimaciones aproximadas de su actual distribución, describimos varios aspectos de su ecologia en Ecuador, documentamos el uso de manaties por gentes indigenas, y documentamos la cosecha comercial actual de manaties para carne. Manaties feuron observados por nosotros en varias localidades separadas en las tierras bajas del Ecuador oriental. Adicionalmente, reportamos varias observaciones por otros, asi como tambien registros históricos publicados que fueron previamente pasados por alto. Nuestras observaciones de manaties son de habitaciones en aguas negras en selva iluviosa primaria no alterada de tierras bajas, en aguas con un pH de 5.5 a 6.0 y temperatura de 25.0 a 30.7C. En la región del alto Cuyabeno, los indios de la tribu Siona, quienes han cosechado manaties por generaciones, se han impuesto asi mismos prohibiciones en la caza de manaties en Ecuador y tierras adyacentes de Peru. La mayoria de la carne obtenida es usada por los militares ya sea ecuatorianos o peruanos. Nosotros encontramos abundantes manaties sólo en una localidad, la Laguna Lagarto Cocha. Sin embargo, esta población esta siendo activamente cazada, y la carne es vendida a los destacamentos militares del lugar. Estimamos que si el nivel actual de caza continua al mismo ritmo los manaties amazónicos habran desaparecido del Ecuador en unos 10 a 15 anios.
     
    Recent summaries of the distribution of the Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis record specimens from much of the Central Amazon Basin in Brazil, eastern Peru, and extreme southeastern Colombia, but not Ecuador. During October and November of 1983 we searched for manatees in the Río Aguarico and Río Cuyabeno systems of Napo Province, eastern Ecuador. Herein we document the existence of Amazonian manatees in Ecuador, provide rough estimates of their current distribution, describe several aspects of their ecology in Ecuador, document use of manatees by indigenous peoples, and document the current commercial harvest of manatees for meat. Manatees were observed by us at several separate localities in the Amazonian lowlands of eastern Ecuador. Additionally, we report several observations by others as well as a published historical record previously overlooked. Our observations of manatees are from blackwater habitats in undisturbed, primary, lowland rainforest in water with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0 and temperature of 25.0 to 30.7C. In the upper Cuyabeno region, the Siona Indians, who have harvested manatees for generations, have a self-imposed ban on manatee hunting to protect the few remaining animals in their waters. Settlers, the military, and a commercial meat hunter continue to actively harvest Amazonian manatees in Ecuador and adjacent Peru. Much of the meat obtained is used by either the Ecuadorian or Peruvian military. We found manatees abundant at only one locality, Laguna Lagarto Cocha. However, this population is being actively hunted, and the meat sold to the local military outposts. We estimate that if the current level of harvest continues unabated, Amazonian manatees will be gone from Ecuador within 10–15 years.
     
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/6920
    Collections
    • Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Scholarly Works [738]
    • Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Scholarly Works [1516]
    • Kansas African Studies Center Scholarly Works [272]
    Citation
    Timm, R. M., L. Albuja V., and B. L. Clauson. 1986. Ecology, distribution, harvest, and conservation of the Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunguis, in Ecuador. Biotropica 18(2):150–156.

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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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