\u200bThe potential victims range from marine birds and turtles to the recently discovered Amazon reef system<\/a>. One endangered<\/a> marine mammal, however, has prompted particular concern because of the extra challenges to rescuing it in the event of a disaster: the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), a species that grows to a length of around 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) and weighs an average of 700 kilograms (more than 1,500 pounds); some individuals reach up to 1,600 kg (more than 3,500 lbs).<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cHandling and transporting animals of this size requires complex logistics and large-scale equipment,\u201d said marine biologist F\u00e1bia de Oliveira Luna, coordinator at the National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals (CMA), which is part of Brazil\u2019s environmental ministry. With a population estimated at only 1,047 individuals in Brazil and a reproduction rate of one calf every four years, \u201cevery individual removed undermines the survival of the population,\u201d Luna told Mongabay.<\/p>\n \u200bAccording to scientists, the oil project also jeopardizes a unique genetic code shared only by animals from this region, a result of the interbreeding between the marine manatee and its freshwater relative, the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis).\u200b<\/p>\n The West Indian manatee is found throughout the Caribbean<\/a> and is categorized as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List.<\/p>\n In Brazil, its shrinking population reflects a poaching culture that persists in the country\u2019s northern region. More recently, animals have also been displaced from their coastal retreats by the real estate industry, according to researcher and veterinarian Jo\u00e3o Carlos Gomes Borges, who said he was captivated by the manatee\u2019s helpless look 35 years ago.\u200b<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough it\u2019s a seemingly large animal, whenever I look at a manatee, it always seems like it needs care,\u201d said Borges, who works with the rescue and rehabilitation of the species in Brazil\u2019s northeastern states.<\/p>\n Petrobras\u2019s drilling is focused in the so-called Morpho well, located 179 kilometers (111 miles) from the Amap\u00e1 coast and around 500 km (310 miles) from the mouth of the Amazon.<\/p>\n The well is part of the Amazon River mouth\u2019s sedimentary basin, one of several basins that make up the Equatorial Margin<\/a>. This new oil exploration frontier extends deeper into the Atlantic, where Petrobras says it expects to find 10 billion oil barrels<\/a>. If confirmed, these reserves may boost Brazil as a new oil power and open the whole Equatorial Margin to oil exploration<\/a>.\u200b In April, Brazil approved plans<\/a> for companies eager to explore 19 other blocks in the area, and Petrobras requested approval from the federal environmental agency, IBAMA, to drill three new wells<\/a> in the region.<\/p>\n IBAMA, however, has warned that this area \u201cbears no resemblance to any other producing basin in the country in terms of natural resources and socio-environmental sensitivity.\u201d As such, \u201cthe emergency response and wildlife rescue plan in the event of an oil spill must also be unprecedented,\u201d the agency\u2019s experts wrote in a technical note in 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200bPetrobras\u2019s wildlife protection plan, which details how the company will manage an oil spill, was rejected five times by IBAMA. Its sixth and final version was also deemed insufficient by the agency\u2019s experts. However, it was approved by IBAMA\u2019s then-president, Rodrigo Agostinho, amid strong pressure from President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva<\/a>, who openly defended Petrobras\u2019s plans.\u200b<\/p>\n \u201cThe Individual Emergency Plan [which includes the wildlife protection plan] submitted by Petrobras was deemed unsatisfactory by all the technical committees that reviewed it,\u201d said<\/a> federal prosecutors from Amap\u00e1, who are seeking the revocation of Petrobras\u2019s environmental licensing<\/a> alongside their colleagues in Par\u00e1<\/a>. Environmental groups have also slammed Agostinho\u2019s decision<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200bIn an email to Mongabay, Petrobras said it \u201cmet all the requirements established by IBAMA, fully complying with the environmental licensing process, which led to the issuance of the license for activities at the Morpho well in the Equatorial Margin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200bIBAMA experts, however, pointed to several flaws in Petrobras\u2019s wildlife rescue plan. The West Indian manatee would be especially vulnerable since the company considers it \u201cunfeasible\u201d<\/a> to rescue manatees and sea turtles weighing more than 50 kg (110 lbs).\u200b<\/p>\n According to Petrobras, rescuing such animals in stranded situations or in the water would require at least eight people, posing risks to both the animal and the team. \u201cThe animal may strike out with its powerful caudal fin \u2014 particularly with lateral movements \u2014 or with its head, in addition to the risk of self-injury when attempting to break free from improper restraint,\u201d the wildlife protection plan says.\u200b<\/p>\n IBAMA\u2019s technical body<\/a> concluded that the plan \u201cexcludes a large portion of the local megafauna, condemning it to the harmful effects of oil contamination, which can lead to death.\u201d In an email to Mongabay, however, the agency\u2019s press office said Petrobras\u2019s plan was \u201cevaluated and deemed suitable.\u201d In the case of animals heavier than 50 kg, protective actions would focus on \u201cmeasures to prevent accidents and, should they occur, to scare these species away,\u201d IBAMA wrote. (Read the agency\u2019s full response here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n \u200bGrounded boats and accidents<\/p>\n The Amazonian coast is the world\u2019s new oil frontier, according to a report from Brazilian news outlet InfoAmaz\u00f4nia<\/a>, holding nearly 20% of all recently discovered reserves. Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela have also been targets of the oil industry.<\/p>\n \u200bMost of the concerns about oil exploration in the area stem from the region\u2019s maritime and weather conditions, since navigating along South America\u2019s northern coast can be challenging. The area is known for frequent storms, persistent winds and ocean currents three times stronger than those observed in the continent\u2019s southeast, where Petrobras does most of its offshore drilling.\u200b<\/p>\n Twice, the company found itself in trouble in the Amazon mouth area. In 2011, in a different well within the same region, crews had to abandon the ocean platform<\/a> after a drill bit was swept away by the strong ocean currents. In January 2026, only three months after IBAMA\u2019s green light for the Morpho well, 18,000 liters (nearly 4,800 gallons) of a toxic fluid<\/a> leaked during a drilling operation.<\/p>\n \u200bAs a final step to obtaining its license, Petrobras had to demonstrate how it would respond to an oil spill. A 70-hour simulation was conducted in August 2025, during which the company had to rescue 17 birds, two turtles, and one West Indian manatee calf, all represented by stuffed animals and inflatable floats.\u200b<\/p>\n In the fictional emergency scenario proposed by IBAMA, the Petrobras team had to respond to a synthetic fluid spill, where air rescue was not an option. The complex maritime operation included the transfer of animals from larger boats dedicated to offshore rescues, to smaller ones waiting in the Oiapoque River estuary, and then to the recovery center in Oiapoque, Amap\u00e1.\u200b<\/p>\n To comply with the 24-hour rescue deadline, the company failed to follow its own safety recommendation about transferring animals at night. Pilots in the Oiapoque River struggle to navigate around sandbars and rocky bottoms, and three accidents were recorded. One boat got tangled in a fishing net, while another grounded on a sandbank. In another incident, two boats collided. Nobody was hurt.<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cThe incidents reported during the river journey on the Oiapoque River underscore the importance of prioritizing safety criteria,\u201d the IBAMA analysts wrote.<\/p>\n \u200bAlthough the company succeeded in rescuing the dummy animals within the allocated time, IBAMA noted that the weather conditions during the simulation were especially favorable. \u201cIt is well known, however, that this is not the reality in the region, which typically experiences more adverse weather and sea conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n The agency also identified several flaws during the exercise, including the lack of basic supplies such as heating pads for the animals, which were improvised with surgical gloves filled with warm water. At some point, both boats designated to operate offshore were outside the accident area, preventing further rescues.\u200b<\/p>\n The simulation included the rescue of a dummy West Indian manatee calf, supposedly hit by a boat. IBAMA analysts praised the team\u2019s technical expertise in treating the dummy, but complained about the time it took to transport it to the medical center.<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cThe situation highlighted communication breakdowns between the team at the accident site and the team responsible for allocating resources,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n Vessel strikes are a major concern for large marine animals, since many boats are needed to support offshore oil operations. \u201cIn my view, vessel traffic is a much greater concern than the actual [oil] exploration activity itself,\u201d said Borges, the veterinarian. Engine noise may also hinder communication between mother and calf manatees underwater. Once separated from their mothers, the calves could end up stranded on the coast.<\/p>\n A genetic treasure at risk\u200b<\/p>\n Petrobras stated in its wildlife protection plan that there\u2019s a \u201czero\u201d chance of an oil spill reaching the coast, the traditional haunt of West Indian manatees. \u201cThe [oil exploration] activity itself would take place in a very remote location, which is highly unlikely to be used by manatees,\u201d said Borges, who coordinates a Petrobras-sponsored project to protect West Indian manatees<\/a> in Brazil\u2019s northeast.\u200b<\/p>\n Despite being marine mammals, these animals must remain near river estuaries to drink freshwater and give birth in calm waters. Evidence shows, however, that some individuals may explore areas far from the coast, as described by IBAMA experts in a technical note in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n There is even an emblematic case of a manatee named Tico<\/a>, who was released by a conservation project off the state of Cear\u00e1 and swam 5,000 km (3,100 mi) to Venezuela.<\/p>\n \u200bThe behavior of these marine mammals is even more unpredictable in the Par\u00e1 and Amap\u00e1 states, home to a unique population. Researchers found<\/a> that manatees living in the area under the influence of the Amazon River mouth share a different genome, a mixture of the DNA of the marine (West Indian) manatee and the freshwater (Amazonian) manatee. This genetic variation has resulted in individuals adapted to live in an area strongly influenced by the Amazon River, the world\u2019s largest river by water volume<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a unique environment, with a unique salinity level, a different amount of sediment, and very different light conditions,\u201d said biologist Camilla Savicius de Lima, who holds a Ph.D. in genetics and co-authored the study. \u201cHybrid individuals would be better adapted to these conditions than either of the other two, both the Amazonian and the marine species,\u201d she told Mongabay.<\/p>\n These hybrid manatees tend to spend less time in estuary areas than their relatives from the Caribbean, Lima said. Deeper research, however, is needed to better understand these animals\u2019 behavior and occupation areas. \u201cMaking changes to the environment before fully understanding it is very complicated. We don\u2019t know what the potential impacts might be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200bIt is also not possible to rule out eventual oil spills reaching the coast, as stated in a technical note<\/a> by IBAMA. According to the agency, \u201csignificant amounts of oil\u201d could \u201cbreak up over time and drift for months, even washing up on coastal areas.\u201d The agency cited the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, when a gigantic offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico spread oil up to 800 km (almost 500 mi), including up to the U.S. coast. Researchers estimate<\/a> the disaster killed a million birds and up to 173,600 sea turtles.<\/p>\n \u200bIn Brazil\u2019s case, a spill reaching the coast around the mouth of the Amazon would hit the world\u2019s largest mangrove belt<\/a>, which is inaccessible by land and has complex coastal navigation, making any attempt to rescue manatees there much more challenging.\u200b<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the phenomenon known as pororoca, when a high tide on the Atlantic coast sends waves up to 4 m (13 ft) high<\/a> barreling upriver. \u201cThese are waves that enter the rivers and pose a significant obstacle to navigation,\u201d Borges said.\u200b<\/p>\n According to Luna, the marine biologist, West Indian manatees would be directly exposed to the oil layer when they surface to breathe. The contamination may be transmitted from mother to calf. The oil may also hinder the animal\u2019s swimming and navigation by blocking its vibrissae, the short hairs that cover its body and function as sensors.\u200b The seismic noise<\/a> used in exploration activities could also affect other aquatic mammals.<\/p>\n As part of the environmental permitting requirement, Petrobras set up two wildlife care and rehabilitation centers in Par\u00e1\u2019s capital, Bel\u00e9m, and in Oiapoque municipality, in Amap\u00e1, which, according to the company, are prepared to treat marine mammals<\/a>. It also committed to supporting institutions already working on the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees in Par\u00e1.<\/p>\n Petrobras suspended work on the Morpho well for more than two months<\/a> after the fluid accident in January 2026. The company says it expects to complete drilling the first well in the second quarter<\/a> of this year, but additional drilling will be needed to confirm the oil reserves.<\/p>\n Banner image: Petrobras says in its emergency plan that it\u2019s \u201cunfeasible\u201d to rescue animals weighing more than 50 kilos (110 pounds). Image courtesy of FMA collection.<\/p>\n Seismic noise from oil companies threatens Amazon River Mouth marine life<\/a><\/p>\n Citations:<\/p>\n Moura, R. L., Amado-Filho, G. M., Moraes, F. C., Brasileiro, P. S., Salomon, P. S., Mahiques, M. M., \u2026 Thompson, F. L. (2016). An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth. Science Advances, 2(4), e1501252. doi:10.1126\/sciadv.1501252<\/a><\/p>\n Vila\u00e7a, S. T., Lima, C. S., Mazzoni, C. J., Santos, F. R., & De Thoisy, B. (2019). Manatee genomics supports a special conservation area along the Guianas coastline under the influence of the Amazon River plume. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 226, 106286. doi:10.1016\/j.ecss.2019.106286<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Manatees](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2.-Acervo_FMA_2.jpeg\")
Manatees living in the mouth of the Amazon River are hybrids of the marine and freshwater species, according to scientists. Image courtesy of FMA collection.<\/p>\n![\"Oil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/oil-exploration-at-the-Amazon-River-mouth-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3.-soltura_raimundo_alagoas_cenpene.png\")
A major operation to return a West Indian manatee to the wild on the shores of Alagoas state. Image courtesy of ICMBio<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Petrobras](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4.-Sonda-NS-42-ODN-II_Foto2_Divulgacao-Foresea.jpg\")
Petrobras used the NS-42 drilling rig during a wildlife rescue simulation at the mouth of the Amazon River. Image courtesy of Foresea<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mouth-of-amazon-1.jpg\")
The Amazon River flows into the Atlantic Ocean, creating a nutrient-rich basin that flows as far north as the Caribbean. Image \u00a9 Victor Moriyama\/Greenpeace.<\/p>\n
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