News

Puerto Rico’s West Indian manatees are suffering from a lack of genetic diversity due to almost no cross-breeding between themselves and manatees from other populations in the Caribbean.

Researchers from the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center (PRMCC) found that the small population of 250 West Indian manatees rarely breed with Florida’s manatees. Additionally, there are two distinct groups of manatees within the West Indian population that rarely cross-breed, further reducing their potential mates.

West Indian manatees are listed by the World Conservation Union as vulnerable to extinction. A lack of genetic diversity is worsening the situation by making them more prone to both natural and manmade disasters.

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