Abstract
The ingestion of human-produced debris by aquatic species has been recorded for several years, but has intensified since 1984. Until now there were no records of deaths of Amazonian manatees ( Trichechus inunguis ) by ingestion of plastic rubbish. This species is endemic of the rivers in the Amazon basin and vulnerable to extinction. This note reports on the problabe implication of ingestion of plastic waste on the death of a specimen of Amazonian manatee in the lower Japura river, in the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve, state of Amazonas. The information came about during the application of semi-structured interviews with local inhabitants, especially directed to the traditional hunters of this sirenian. On 06/06/2008 an adult manatee approximately 3-m long was found dead in the lower Japura river. When flensing it, the fisherman who found it came upon a 5-kg market plastic bag in the digestive tract at the level of the pharynx which may have blocked the digestive channel of the animal or caused it to suffocate. Given the widespread use and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste, joint efforts by the society are recommended to reduce the impact of debris on wildlife and the environment.
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