Authorities Investigating After Manatee Found with 'Trump' on Its Back

The West Indian manatee was reported to FWS over the weekend when it was spotted swimming in the Blue Hole of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

Here is the video of the poor manatee that had "TRUMP" carved into its body.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking information on the individual or individuals who scraped "TRUMP" into the back of an endangered manatee's back.

"It's been my experience that this is very out of character for this community", Craig Cavanna, a senior federal wildlife officer and current investigating officer, told the regional outlet. He added that they are following leads in the case.

"It's clear that whoever harmed this defenseless, gentle giant is capable of doing grave violence and needs to be apprehended immediately", Jaclyn Lopez, the nonprofit group's Florida director, said in a statement.

The Center for Biological Diversity decried the incident and offered a $5,000 reward for information that led to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. It appears that the word was written in algae that had grown on the animal's back, not scratched into its skin.

Because manatees are protected by the Endangered Species Act, it is a federal offense to harass the animal with fines up to $50,000 and/or one-year in prison. "Additionally, open wounds could become infected".