The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment through the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), recently hosted a team of international Manatee experts at the National Park and the Zoological Park. The Team was headed by Dr. Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez from the US-based Oceanic Society and the Co-chair for the IUCN South American Sirenian (Manatee) Specialist Group, and included Boris Lerebours, a Manatee breeding and reintroduction expert from the National Parks of Guadeloupe.
A release from the Ministry of Natural Resources said initial findings of the assessment revealed that the animals are demonstrating increased reproductive activity, with five very young calves being recorded and breeding behaviour being observed during the survey. The Team also noted that Guyana is the only country in the world that has maintained a captive population or reproducing manatees for over 100 years, the release said.