Why Manatees Are Endangered

The West Indian manatee is a slow swimming mammal that once inhabited the rivers and coastlines of the Western Atlantic from Florida to Brazil.

  1. History

    • The West Indian manatee has no natural enemies. In some parts of the world, the manatee is still hunted for food. It is believed the manatee can live for as long as 60 years or longer.

    Types

    • The natural causes of manatee mortality can include ailments such as gastrointestinal disease, pneumonia, cold stress and other diseases. A significant amount of fatalities are brought about by humans.

    The Facts

    • Nearly all human-related manatee deaths are the result of collisions with watercraft. Additional manatee deaths are caused by swallowing of fish hooks, garbage, monofilament fishing line and ensnarement in crab trap lines.

    Significance

    • Most recently, the loss of habitat poses to be a more serious menace for the manatee. Save the Manatee Club estimates there are only around 3,800 manatees in the United States.

    Warning

    • The United States has placed the West Indian manatee under federal protection by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.