A rescue attempt is planned for a manatee recently seen in Cape Cod waters and now stuck near a New Jersey oil refinery where plunging temperatures are endangering his life.
The Ilya, a gentle sea cow, has been known to marine scientists for 10 years as he made his way up and down the East Coast. He has recently been spotted in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maryland.
Last month, Ilya was sighted at Sesuit Harbor in Dennis and was also seen in Rock Harbor in Orleans. But Friday he was huddling near an outfall pipe at an oil refinery in Linden, the only place he could find warm water.
A nor’easter pummeling New Jersey with wind and rain was making things even more dangerous for Ilya, who needs to be in water with temperatures of 68 degrees or warmer. The water where he is now is between 60 and 64 degrees. Charles Underwood, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said Iyla may not be able to survive long in such temperatures.
"Above 68, they’re OK. Below that, they become susceptible to hypothermia. That’s our concern," he said. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a rescue group located in Brigantine, just outside Atlantic City, received permission from federal wildlife officials to attempt a rescue this weekend. Bob Schoelkopf, the center’s co-director, said foul weather today made an attempt impossible. They may try today or Sunday if the weather improves.