November is almost over, but I just found out that November is Manatee Awareness Month. In October, Governor Charlie Crist issued a proclamation recognizing November 2009 as Manatee Awareness Month, a tradition supported by Florida’s governors for many years. Manatees are listed as endangered at the state, federal, and international levels. The proclamation states, “Manatees face the risk of extinction due to human related threats.”
Patrick Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club, explains that, despite more recent gains in manatee protection measures, this year is proving to be one of the worst for manatees. “It is likely that by year’s end, the total number of manatee deaths from all causes— and the number of manatees killed by boats— will be higher than in any previous year. Already this year in Florida, more than 374 manatees have died, many of these due to boating accidents. Another serious threat to the manatee population is the potential loss of warm-water winter habitat, such as natural springs and the outfalls of power plants, where manatees gather to keep warm during winter cold spells. Manatees cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Rose adds that “There is much we can do together to safeguard Florida’s docile and defenseless manatee, like obeying posted speed zones and properly disposing of our trash when boating. Thankfully, manatees are cherished by so many, and for that we remain hopeful and optimistic.” The Save the Manatee Club tries to raise public awareness about the presence of manatees and about how to help prevent their deaths.
The West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus, includes two distinct subspecies, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus). The manatee is a large aquatic relative of the elephant. They are grayish brown in color and have thick, wrinkled skin on which there is often a growth of algae. Their front flippers help them steer or sometimes crawl through shallow water. They also have powerful flat tails that help propel them through the water. Manatees are herbivores; they eat marine and freshwater plants. The largest population of manatees is found in Florida, where there are over 3,000 individuals.
For more information, contact Janice Nearing, Director of Public Relations, at (407) 539-0990 or send an e-mail to jnearing@savethemanatee.org
Also see http://www.savethemanatee.org/ and http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/manatee.php
