CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — One of the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organizations for animals is offering an additional $5,000 for information in the case of “Trump” being written on a manatee earlier this year.
Executive Director Stephen Wells of the Animal Legal Defense Fund said he hopes the increase will bring new information in the case.
“It’s troubling that someone has interfered with a threatened species and there are laws in place to prevent this type of incident. We hope the additional reward will reinvigorate the case and a witness will come forward,” Wells said.
READ: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ scraped on its back
The announcement of the addition brings the total reward offered by the fund to $8,000.
Currently, reward offers have also been made by actor Dave Bautista and the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began investigating Jan. 10 after getting reports of a manatee with “Trump” carved into its back.
The manatee was spotted near Blue Hole on the Homosassa River, in Citrus County.
At the time experts said it did not appear that the manatee was seriously injured and that the writing was seen in algae on the animal’s back.
The USFWS and Florida wildlife officials have been investigating the incident.
READ: Rescue team releases rehabilitated manatee in Daytona Beach
Manatees are protected by both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
It is a federal crime to interfere with or harass the creatures.
Anyone found guilty of violating the act can be fined up to $50,000 and/or sentenced to one year in federal prison.
READ: Manatee grazes on Florida lawn during Tropical Storm Eta
Authorities ask anyone with information about the incident to call 844-397-8477 or email FWS_TIPS@FWS.GOV.
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