Thermographic imaging of rehabilitation pools used for Amazonian manatees in western Pará, Amazon, Brazil

Abstract

Water temperature is a determining factor for the welfare of captive animals, and the ideal range is between 27 and 30 ºC. The objective of this study was to diagnose the thermal conditions in Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) holding pools to aid in the management of these animals during their rehabilitation. This study was conducted at the zoo of the University of the Amazon (ZOOUNAMA) during the monitoring period, in Santarém, western Pará. Near infrared thermography was used to complement the evaluation of the animal´s behavior with the goal of identifying thermal patterns in two pools, one completely exposed to the sun (A) and the other with more shade (B), especially during the period of the day when there was greater incidence of solar irradiation on the water surface and around the pool edges. Pool A was being used to rehabilitate two animals, and pool B to rehabilitate three. There was a significant difference in temperature of the wall of pool A compared to that of pool B, indicating direct effects of incidence of solar irradiation, with values of 41.3° C and 35.3 °C, respectively. The temperatures along the edges of pool A had average values that were above those along the edges of pool B. Near infrared thermography is a tool that is easy to use to diagnose the possible effects of temperature on the behavior of animals being rehabilitated in the state of Pará.