Reward Offered:
Manatee Killed by Poacher in Georgia

The manatee, above, was found in the vicinity of Ossabaw Island, Georgia and had been killed by a wound to the chest. (Photo courtesy of USFWS)

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to any person who furnishes information that leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property, of any person(s) responsible for the death or relating to the death of a manatee in the vicinity of Ossabaw Island, Georgia about the second week of August.

Additionally, the Save the Manatee Club is offering a separate reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the identification of the manatee’s killer(s) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is offering $1,000.

The manatee’s body was found on Wednesday, August 17, 2005, partially buried in wet sand on Bradley Beach, located on the north end of Ossabaw Island. The manatee had been killed by a wound to the middle of its chest.

Anyone having information about the killing of this manatee is urged to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement conducting this investigation at: 843-727-4707 x 211; the toll-free Turn In Poachers Hotline at 1-800-241-4113; or the Brunswick DNR Law Enforcement office at 912-264-7237. Callers may remain anonymous and be eligible for a total reward of up to $14,000 for information leading to the conviction of the perpetrator(s).

Manatees are protected under federal law by both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as receiving state protection under the provisions of Georgia’s Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973.

Rewards for convictions of wildlife, fish, or marine law violation of Georgia State law are offered by Turn In Poachers, Inc., a nonprofit Georgia conservation organization.

###

Return to the Manatee News page