The Florida Manatee: Cow of the Sea

 The West Indian Manatee

 by: Tori Mau

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/west-indian-manatee/

The West Indian Manatee, trichechus manatus, is an endangered marine mammal protected by both the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The Florida Manatee is the subspecies T. manatus latirostris of trichechus manatus. (savethemanatee.org). 

They are one of the four living species of the mammalian order of Sirenia. West Indian Manatees are native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean surrounding Florida. Florida manatees are gentle migratory creatures and are known for their grey coloring and paddle-shaped tails. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 

The West Indian Manatee was listed as endangered on April 15th, 1980. Its recovery plan has been revised several times and most recently on October 30th, 2001. Currently, the status of the West Indian Manatee is vulnerable (IUCN).

 At a Glance:

• Florida manatees can live up to 60 years
• On average, Florida manatees are 10 feet long
• They typically weigh 800-1000 pounds
• They are primarily herbivorous 
• Florida manatees consume 10-15% of their body weight in vegetation every day
• They generally swim at 3-5 mph but can reach speeds of up to 20 mph
• They have earned the nickname the "sea cow," but are most closely related the the elephant
• It has been estimated that there are currently 4,800 Florida manatees (savethemanatee.org)
  
  

Why is the Florida Manatee Endangered?  

The Florida Manatee faces many threats to their population, the main ones being: 

• Injury and death from boat and boat motor strikes:
• Accounts for a quarter of known manatee deaths
• Humans often do not see the grey mammals and hit them on accident
• Cold water temperatures and man-made blockages (floodgates) of canals and rivers
• Human development on coastlines intrudes on manatee habitat  
• Low reproduction rates:
•  Manatees are not sexually mature until around the age of 5 years
• Gestation can last up to 14 months
• Calves are dependent for up to 2 years
• Birth intervals are on average 2.5 years
•  (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)  

 

Where do Florida Manatees like to live?

They can be found in a range of habitats, such as shallow rivers, estuaries, bays, canals, and coastal areas. In the summers, they can be found as far north as Rhode Island and as far west as Texas. Manatees are migratory animals and follow warm waters during the winter; typically manatees concentrate in waters around Florida in the colder months and depend on natural springs for warmth (savethemanatee.org).

 

(http://travel4wildlife.com/where-to-see-manatees-wild/) 

Population: 

The Florida manatee is a difficult species to quantify, despite major efforts made. Direct counting methods have proved unreliable, however the minimum estimate in the 1980's was 1,200 and in 2001, it was estimated that there were at least 3,200 manatees. Today, the number of Florida manatees is around 4,800. (U.S.Fish and Wildlife Services and savethemanatee.org)

Helping the Florida Manatee: The Recovery Plan

The first part of the recovery plan is to minimize the causes of manatee disturbance, harassment, injury, and mortality. 

• The State of Florida has implemented four County Manatee Protection Plans, which include strict boat speed laws.
• Manatee sanctuaries and refuges have been established.

Secondly, it is essential to determine and monitor the Florida manatee populations. The ideal population benchmarks are:

• An annual adult survival rate of 90%.
• At least 40% of adult females with calves in the winter.
• Population growth greater than or equal to zero.

Third, we must protect, identify, evaluate, and monitor manatee habitats.

• Rehabilitation of distressed manatees that were compromised due to man-made factors is necessary.
• Since 1973, over 180 manatees have been helped by veterinary staff.

Lastly, we must facilitate manatee recovery so that they are "delisted." This can be done through public awareness and education efforts. 

• Many groups have aided in the awareness of the status of the Florida Manatee.
• Save The Manatee Club (SMC) provides free information for students.

The ultimate goal is to assure long-term viability of the Florida manatee. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

To Learn More and Help:

To see the complete recovery plan, go here.

To adopt a manatee and support conservation efforts, please visit SaveTheManatee.org

To see manatees live in action, visit the SaveTheManateeCam here.

 

Sources:

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22103/0

http://www.savethemanatee.org

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/011030.pdf