The manatee was discovered on Sunday in the Homosassa River, Florida, with the president’s name in capital letters on its back, according to a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity.
It is not clear what was used to mark the animal.
The center announced a $ 5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible, according to a press release.
“Manatees are not billboards, and people shouldn’t mess with these sensitive and threatened animals for any reason,” said Jaclyn Lopez, director of the Center for Biological Diversity in Florida.
“However, this political graffiti was placed on this manatee, it is a crime to interfere with these creatures, which are protected by several federal laws.”
Officials from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating. Anyone with information can call the commission hotline at (888) 404-3922.
Florida manatees are slow-moving plant eaters, also known as “sea cows”. The manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Animals are protected by the Endangered Species Act; harassing a manatee is a federal crime.