CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Since September of 2005, there have been seven confirmed manatee deaths associated with the Chiquita Lock in Cape Coral. On Tuesday, officers from FWC removed another dead manatee from the lock.
A preliminary necropsy revealed that the manatee may have been killed by the Chiquita Lock, while locals say the time has come for it to be removed.
“They have been trying to do something about it for 20 years.” said Jeremy Kanable, a resident and boater in Cape Coral.
FWC Officers suspect that the manatee drowned after getting caught in the lock. Installed back in the 1970s, the Chiquita Lock in recent years has become a hot button issue in Cape Coral, as boaters and environmental groups have lobbied to have it removed.
Now with another one of Florida’s most beloved animals killed there, many hope it’s a catalyst to finally see it removed.
“Take it out. It’s nothing but trouble. Everybody complains about it that I know about.” Kanable said.
