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'Guardians of the Galaxy' star offers $20K reward for information on person who wrote 'Trump' on manatee's back

By Sarah Polus - 01/16/21 05:15 PM EST
 

"Guardians of the Galaxy" star Dave Bautista is offering up a $20,000 reward for information leading to the person who wrote TRUMP on the back of a manatee that was found in Florida on Sunday.

Bautisa, a native of the Sunshine State, has upped the outstanding $5,000 award offered previously by the Center for Biological Diversity.

"If there’s not already a reward for the arrest and conviction of the low life scummy MAGATs that did this I’ll throw in $20,000," he vowed in a tweet. "And I promise there will be bonuses to that reward!"

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The animal, found in the Homosassa River, appeared to have the president's name written on its back in algae. It remains unclear how it happened. 

Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity, condemned the act to The New York Times, saying, "Manatees aren't billboards, and people shouldn't be messing with these sensitive and imperiled animals for any reason.
 
"However this political graffiti was put on this manatee, it's a crime to interfere with these creatures, which are protected under multiple federal laws," she added.
 
Manatees are classified as a threatened species in Florida, and tend to migrate into natural springs, including Homosassa River, during the winter months in search of warmer waters.

Tags manatee Trump Florida Guardians of the Galaxy