The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is currently investigating the death of a manatee found in a Largo canal, as reported by First Coast News. Residents in the neighborhood near the site were the ones to uncover the distressed animal yesterday morning. In a statement obtained by First Coast News, Peter Lang, a local homeowner, recounted the discovery, saying, "We saw this big grey mound sitting on this marsh over here and my wife said, 'What is that? That's not a rock. It's never been there before.' I jumped in the kayak and paddled over, and sure enough, it's a manatee that's dead. It's on its back. It wasn't moving, and it looked like it had wounds all over it."
Authorities from the FWC are trying to thoroughly determine the cause of death, and according to FOX 13, neighbors came forward with concerns that the manatee bore signs of having been shot multiple times. The FWC is coordinating with both its own biologists and local law enforcement in a collaborative effort that aims to unravel the details surrounding the incident.
Recovery and examination of the manatee remain a priority for the FWC officers who are actively engaging with local experts, as per a report by mysuncoast.com.
As the investigation continues, information regarding the manatee's condition and the cause of death are still pending as officials conduct a thorough analysis. The FWC encourages anyone with information related to the incident to come forward to assist in their ongoing investigation.
