P.R. Manatee Conservation Center partners with world’s largest aquarium

The Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center, directed by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, joined efforts with the Georgia Aquarium through a partnership agreement that aims to promote the conservation and preservation of marine species.

The partnership will feature the mutual support from the entities in developing new projects and expanding current ones, particularly efforts that promote the development of the P.R. Manatee Conservation Center, that works for the conservation of manatees through scientific investigations, rescue missions, rehabilitation and community outreach projects.

“We have worked with the vice-president of the Aquarium, Dr. Bossart, who’s been in charge of veterinary medicine, since 1990. He has actively participated in our manatee mortality research since that time by reading
us the pathology of dying manatees in Puerto Rico. This led into developing a partnership between our university and the aquarium to continue working together,” stated Antonio Mignucci, head of the PRMCC.

The Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, is the world's largest aquarium with more than 8.1 million gallons of both salt and fresh water, housing more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species. Chief veterinary officer for the Aquarium, Dr. Gregory Bossart, will serve as adjunct professor of the Center, as well as a consulting veterinarian, providing support to the institution’s veterinarians. In exchange, Mignucci will serve as adjunct researcher of the Aquarium.

As Mignucci explained, this partnership will help develop exchanges between the staff of the Center and the Aquarium, as well as offering students, volunteers and technicians the chance to go to the aquarium for training and internships.

“The Georgia Aquarium is highly regarded and has a tremendous expertise in animal care, water quality and veterinary medicine. This provides us with the knowledge that will helps us get a better Center and help the manatees more effectively,” added Mignucci.

Meanwhile, the formal facilities for the P.R. Manatee Conservation Center will presumably begin construction in July, on the campus of the Inter American University in Bayamón, with an investment of about $700,000. The
project includes laboratories for scientific research, food supply resources and veterinary care for manatees in captivity and /or rehabilitation. It will also includes a multipurpose room to receive and guide students from schools and universities so they can see at first-hand the research, rehabilitation and conservation efforts of manatees that the CCMPR features.

"Once completed, the Center will continue to conduct manatee rescue and rehabilitation work authorized under permits from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as carrying out other research, conservation and community outreach initiatives. Beginning in August, the Center will also house two Florida manatees, that will serve as surrogate parents to Puerto Rican manatee calves rescued in the island," said Mignucci.

The P.R. Manatee Conservation Center also has a cooperative agreement with the Puerto Rico National Guard for the support of manatee liberations by providing a space for a seapen in Punta Salinas, in Toa Baja. In addition, the Center also has an agreement with the Omacha Foundation in Colombia to provide advice on manatee rehabilitation care.

http://www.prdailysun.com/news/PR-Manatee-Conservation-Center-partners-with-worlds-largest-aquarium