The National Park Service Is Seeking Anyone with Information about a Manatee Mutilation in Biscayne Park, Florida

All I can say is WTF?! What would make someone or a group do such a deranged, sick, twisted act?

If you have information, the phone number is 305-230-1144, ext. 3067.

It would benefit us all to get these sickos off the street soon.

It's well documented that those who abuse animals will very soon move on to human victims.

Here are a few articles on the connection between animal abuse, mental problems and future abuse of humans.

http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/abuse_connection.php

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/family/pets/article10.html

http://www2.webmagic.com/abuse.com/index7.html

Article:

Rangers investigate manatee mutilation in Biscayne Park

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15989501.htm

By ELIAS E. LOPEZ
elopez@MiamiHerald.com

* Video | Rangers investigate mutilated manatee

Authorities are asking the public for assistance in finding the person or persons guilty of mutilating a manatee, found dead off the shore of Biscayne National Park on Friday.

National Park Service officials responded Friday morning to a boater's report of a dead manatee floating in the bay near the park located at 9700 SW 328 Street in Homestead.

NPS officers say the suspects probably captured the animal -- six feet long, between 500 and 600 pounds -- either late Thursday or early Friday before cutting its throat and cutting off its fins.

''It's pretty disgraceful that a manatee was treated that way,'' said NPS officer Brian Fields. ``They're protected and to see that happening, it's really disturbing.''

The investigation into the mutilation continues, but if officials find that the incident occurred as a result of human abuse, NPS officials say this would be one of the worst cases they have ever seen.

''This is the first time I've seen this with manatees. Usually they get slashed by boats,'' said Fields, a law enforcement park ranger.

He added that those responsible could face one year in federal prison and/or a $100,000 fine. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be conducting a necropsy on the mammal on Monday to determine the cause of death.

The manatee, long the poster mammal of the environmental movement in Florida, is listed as a threatened species. The docile sea cows face several threats, including deaths from boat strikes, red tide and habitat loss.

The National Park Service is asking anyone with information to call 305-230-1144, ext. 3067.