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Published 10:31 12 Jan 2021 GMT
An investigation has been launched by wildlife officials after a manatee was reportedly discovered with the word "TRUMP" written on its body.
Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened the investigation after the animal was seen by several witnesses in the Blue Hole headwaters of the Homosassa River in Citrus County, The Hill reports.
In heartbreaking footage of the manatee, it can be seen swimming through the water with the name of the outgoing president clearly written on its back.
Watch the heartbreaking footage of the vandalized animal below:Per Newsweek, the scrawling was not carved into the manatee's skin but written in the algae on its back.
Charles Underwood, the supervisor of operations support and communications for the Florida Ecological Services Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), provided the following statement in an email to Newsweek addressing the incident:
"I am confirming that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating this matter. The manatee does not appear to be seriously injured as it seems that the word was written in algae on the animal's back."
"It's been my experience that this is very out of character for this community," Craig Cavanna, a senior federal wildlife officer leading the investigation, told the Citrus County Chronicle.
A $5,000 reward is now being offered by the animal advocacy group the Center for Biological Diversity for any information which could lead to the successful conviction of those responsible, it was revealed on Monday.
Investigators are on the hunt for any information which could lead to the identification of whoever harmed the animal.
"It's heartbreaking that this manatee was subjected to this vile, criminal act," Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement cited by The Hill.
"It's clear that whoever harmed this defenseless, gentle giant is capable of doing grave violence and needs to be apprehended immediately."
According to the Citrus County Chronicle, manatees become easily accessible to swimmers and boaters when they migrate seasonally to the spring-fed waters along the county's western coastline.
Harassment of a manatee is punishable by a $50,000 fine and up to one year in prison as they are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
News of the manatee comes after the Capitol riots, which saw a group of Trump supporters storm the government building last Wednesday (January 6).
Following the riots, President Trump was banned from Twitter after he was accused of inciting the violence which has left five people dead, including one police officer.
The official Twitter Safety account wrote: "After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.
"In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action.
"Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open.
"However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules and cannot use Twitter to incite violence. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement."
