I thought I’d end this blog right by introducing my favorite animal ever! It also happens to be endangered- the manatee! I have loved the manatee for as long as I can remember (my first Webkinz was a manatee) and have done three different presentations on it high school alone.
The manatees are nicknamed sea cows for a good reason. They are peaceful creatures that spend most of their time swimming slowly, looking for food. There are currently four different species in existence- West Indian, Amazonian, West African, and Dugong. They often grow to be about 10 feet long and can weigh up to 1,200 pounds.
In order to maintain their large stature, they must eat a lot of food. They can eat up to one-tenth of their body weight per day. They are herbivores and their diet mostly comprises of seagrass though it is occasionally supplemented by algae.
Manatees favor warm, shallow coastal areas. These areas typically have lots of seagrass and help the manatee stay warm. Despite their large body weight, they have a low metabolic rate that produces little heat and have a problem maintaining. It is easy for them to become too cold and die. They must inhabit waters with an average temperature above 68F in order to survive.
As for location on the globe, their species name is a pretty good descriptor of where they may be found. There are subspecies as well, such as the Florida manatee which often give a more specific location.
Despite their diverse locations all over the world. The threat to them is common, shared among the different species. The largest impact is the loss of habitat and food supply. Pollution destroys their main food source which puts quite a hamper on their ability to survive and thrive. Because they enjoy the warm coast, as do many people, they often lose out when people develop properties near where they live. Boat collisions are a major factor when manatees inhabit areas with human population. Boat propellers can mar the manatees, causing fatal wounds. You would think that they might swim away if a boat came towards them, but manatees have no natural predators, leaving them with a limited amount of fear, and cannot swim very fast at all. In fact, their top speed is only 19 miles power, which is as an adult and can only be sustained for a very short amount of time.
All manatee species are on the IUCN list but have different listings. Only one is estimated to have an increasing population, the West Indian, with the rest having a decreasing trend. There are steps being taken to protect these gentle creatures though. There are many organizations like Save the Manatee Club that offer many opportunities to help. You can volunteer, donate to their many programs, report an injured manatee if seen, avoid areas that are marked off for manatees, and even, yes, adopt one! I am begging you guys, please donate to my GoFundMe. I want nothing more than a manatee and I will die happy. They also have other trinkets that are for sale and benefit the manatees.
I hope you have enjoyed learning about the manatees and every other endangered animal so far this year. I enjoyed talking about them a lot more than I thought I would and hope you had fun, too!