It might be hard to imagine, but manatees are believed to have inspired sailors’ tales of mermaids and sirens. These gentle giants are far from mythical, but just as captivating.
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO WEST INDIAN MANATEES
West Indian manatees are also known as sea cows – for good reason! These slow-moving herbivores eat mostly seagrass and can chow down over 220 pounds of food a day. Because their diet is low in nutrients, they must feed for up to eight hours every day to get the food their massive body needs.
Despite their size, manatees are known for their gentle and social nature. When conditions are right, they come together in large groups that can number in the hundreds! When in these gatherings, manatees can often be observed behaving in what looks like play, bumping into and rubbing against each other. However, they don’t maintain any relationships with others for long. The only long-term bond is between a mother and her calf, a connection that continues through the calf’s juvenile years. Scientists believe this relationship helps young manatees learn important survival information, such as migration routes and feeding areas.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
West Indian manatees are most often found in shallow coastal waters, but they also inhabit rivers, estuaries, and canals. In the United States, they live year-round in Florida, but during warmer months, some travel as far north as Virginia! Despite their size, these creatures don’t have a thick layer of insulating body fat, so they prefer tropical and subtropical waters to stay warm.
CONSERVATION AND THREATS
Although manatees have no natural predators, they face several serious threats caused by humans. Collisions with boats, entanglement in fishing gear, and loss of habitat from coastal development are among the biggest dangers. They are also vulnerable to cold temperatures, harmful algal blooms like red tide, hurricanes, and disease — all of which are becoming more severe or frequent due to climate change.
In the United States, West Indian manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibit, with certain exceptions, hunting, harassing, or killing endangered species and marine mammals including manatees. Despite these protections, the U.S. subspecies of the West Indian manatee is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
HOW YOU CAN HELP WEST INDIAN MANATEES
West Indian manatees live in a variety of habitats and rely on healthy, abundant ecosystems to survive. They also depend on strong protections — like the Marine Mammal Protection Act — to reduce threats and ensure that science-based management helps their populations recover to sustainable levels. Learn more about manatees by visiting Oceana’s Marine Life Encyclopedia.
Add your name to defend the Marine Mammal Protection Act. You can also help these iconic mammals by visiting the Oceana online store to symbolically adopt a West Indian manatee.
