Underwater Orphans

Sometimes you want a reminder that there are still good things in the world.

The Amazonian Manatee Rescue Center in Iquitos, Peru, is a unique nursery for orphaned manatee calves. These gentle giants arrive frail, often due to hunting or habitat loss. Caretakers provide intensive care, including underwater bottle-feeding and lessons in swimming and foraging.

Their ultimate goal is to return the manatees to the wild rivers of the Amazon, giving this vulnerable species a second chance.