The US Fish and Wildlife Service is looking for the person responsible for writing the name "Trump" on the back of the manatee in Florida, bearing in mind that it is an endangered species, and harassment of marine animals is a federal criminal offense, according to the British Daily Mail newspaper.
Manatee harassment, which turned the slow-moving animal into a political billboard, was revealed in an underwater video obtained by Citrus County Chronicle.
The video shows thick letters written with the name "Trump" on the back of the manatee, and the letters appear to be scratched at the algae that grow on the animal's back. The algae that grow on the manatee are believed to help protect the animals, by helping to block harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. However, it is unclear whether the manatee was injured while scratching the writing on its back, and it is also not known when or where the carving took place.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is now investigating the accident. Federal wildlife officer and current investigative officer Craig Kavanagh told the Daily Mail that he could not comment on the ongoing investigation, but the agency was following the leads.
Laws were put in place to help protect manatees, which take refuge along the coasts of Citrus County, from harassment by swimmers and people who operate ships, and manatee harassment, protected under the Endangered Species Act, could result in a fine of $ 50,000 or so. Up to one year in federal prison.
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