Manatee Jean Pedro continues to use Bayahíbe as primary refuge

Six months after being released from a restrictive enclosure, the manatee Jean Pedro continues to use the Bayahíbe bay in La Altagracia province as his primary refuge. While he has the freedom to move into the open sea and is gradually spending more time exploring outside the bay, he frequently returns to the area where he completed his rehabilitation to access natural freshwater springs.

According to Rachel Plekaniec, head of the Marine Megafauna Program at the Dominican Foundation for Marine Studies (Fundemar), the animal's physical condition has improved significantly. Since the enclosure was opened in March, Jean Pedro has grown from approximately 208 centimeters and 160 kilograms to roughly 214 centimeters and 200 kilograms as of early July.