Manatee Rescue Center

This Peruvian Amazon establishment is a haven for orphaned and injured manatees. Established in 2007 and run by the Institute for the Investigation of the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP) in partnership with the Dallas Aquarium, the Manatee Rescue Center educates visitors and allows for interaction with these endangered animals.
Visitors can see rescued adult and baby manatees in natural pools and witness their rehabilitation. It is also possible to volunteer with the center and even bottle feed a baby manatee. The staff members take great care to teach about the importance of preserving the species and the present dangers to their habitat, as many local manatees are poached and babies captured  to be sold as sold as pets, often with a high mortality rate. Tours are conducted in both English and Spanish. 

Practical Info

The Manatee Rescue Center is located at Km 4.5 on the road to Nauta. A taxi from downtown costs about 15 Peruvian soles. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 to 4 pm.