Florida Manatee

The Florida Manatee

By: Vivian Mason

                                                 

manatees at rest

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What is a ‘Manatee’?

Often referred to as the cow of the sea or simply sea cow, the manatee maintains a lackadaisical lifestyle. A manatee is generally eight to thirteen feet long and weights roughly 440 to 1,300 pounds. Yet this massive mammal is surprisingly adapt within the water. Moving along at roughly 5 miles an hour, with the potential to hit 15 miles an hour (for short amounts of time), the manatee propels itself with its strong tail.

Manatees are primarily solo creatures, occasionally found in pairs and on a rare occasion (or breeding season) within a group of roughly half a dozen animals. When searching out a manatee one will primarily only observe this large mammal’s nose and nostrils above water, as they do not ever leave the water. Every fifteen minutes a manatee must surface to breathe, unless swimming, in which case they must surface every three to four minutes. All manatee species share these characteristics. 

Different manatee species live in different areas. There are three species of manatees, one ranging from Florida to Brazil, another the Amazon River and the final one in the rivers and west coast of Africa. This blog focuses upon the Florida manatee.        

      

 All manatees are born underwater. The mothers help the newborns to the surface to breath their first breaths and then stay with them until they’re able to swim (usually within an hour). A manatees lifespan is roughly forty years. The babies then drink their mothers’ milk until they are able to become avid grazers like their elders. A single manatee can eat its entire body weight within a single day. They graze upon algae, weeds and grasses, making them herbivores. 

manatees grazing 

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Specifics of a Florida Manatee 

      

The main difference of the Florida manatee than any other manatee is their geographical range and population numbers. This species of manatee lives in freshwater, brackish and marine habitats. They rely on power plant outfalls and the warm water from natural springs closer to the Florida coast, during the cold winter months. In the summer they can range as far west as Texas on the Gulf coast and as far north as Rhode Island on the Atlantic coast ("Manatee."). Reflecting back to the 1980’s the population was roughly estimated to be about 1,200 individuals, which put this gentle giant on the endangered species list. Most recently, due to a highly successful recovery plan the manatee numbers were seen to be 3,276 in January of 2001. The Florida manatee is a unique species that should be protected and loved. 

Florida manatee range 

                                               

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Florida Manatees Become Endangered

On March 11, 1967 the Florida manatee became listed on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This gentle giant was listed as endangered due to its extremely low numbers. Because of a manatee’s frequent visits to coastal waters and rivers they are extremely vulnerable to hunters seeking their oil, bones and hides. This was the main reason for their mass decline throughout the last century. Since becoming an endangered species they sadly continue to face threats from humans in their natural habitats. The main two being entanglement in fishing nets and motorboats strikes in ever more crowded waters. The manatee would most likely not exist today if it had not been listed.

Manatee awareness verses manatee being hunted

  

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Florida Manatee Recovery Plan

The Florida manatee is considered a valuable part of the ecosystem and therefore has its own recovery plan. Beginning on April 15, 1980 this plan has gone through three revisions and on January 29, 1996 it reach its current stage. The goal of this plan is (as stated) “to assure the long-term viability of the Florida manatee in the wild, allowing initially for reclassification to threatened status and, ultimately, removal from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.” (Florida Manatee Recovery Plan). To accomplish this goal the US Fish and Wildlife Service will “reduce threats to manatee habitat or range, as well as threats from natural and manmade factors” (Florida Manatee Recovery Plan). 

The three main ways they will do this is: 

1. Ensuring the protection of warm-water sites, often used for refuge. 
2. Make note of and protect foraging habitats associated with these warm water refuges. 
3. Cutting down the amount of unauthorized human take. 

Once all of these actions are put into effect the manatee is expected to make a promising recovery. The total cost of implementing these actions is estimated to be $10,000,000. This large sum is completely worth it, primarily because humans are the main cause of the Florida manatee coming so close to extinction. 

 What can you do?

1) Symbolic Florida manatee adoption: click here for adoption 

     This helps by providing the funding to protect a single manatee, while at the same getting the word out via adoption gifts.

2) SPEAK UP! Tell family and friends of this elegant gentle giant, through social media or verbal communication. By doing so the            

             Florida manatee becomes known and therefore more likely to gain more help.

3)   Donate: http://www.savethemanatee.org/donateother.htm 

     By donating you’re directly aiding the manatee. 

The Florida Manatee 

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List of References 

"Manatee." National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

Florida Manatee Recovery Plan:. Atlanta, GA: Region, 1989. Florida Manatee Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

"Florida Manatee." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.