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Brian Mengel,
Civil Servant
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Manatees are an Endangered Species, protected by federal and state law.
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John Fielding,
CEO
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Amazonian manatees were added to the CMS Appendices at COP7 in September 2002.
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Albert Graham,
Backyard Pool Drainer
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Manatees are complete herbivores so they spend many hours a day feeding on aquatic plants eating as much as 15% of their body weight.
Manatees that are not killed outright from boat collisions often suffer from serious prolonged infections as a result of a boat hit, and calves may lose their mothers.
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Miles Rhodes,
Wine Taster
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Manatees are agile and have been observed in loosely organized, playful activities such as body-surfing and barrel rolling.
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Bori Gonbutoren,
Reindeer Herder
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Historically Antillean manatees were hunted by local natives and sold to European explorers for food.
Manatees prefer water temperatures above 68 degrees and if exposed to colder temperatures for prolonged periods can become sick or die.
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Arthur Dawkins,
Astro-physicist
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Because manatees are herbivores, their metabolic rate is low compared with other aquatic mammals.
Individual manatees are capable of living 60 years or more in the wild as long as they have access to a warm water habitat with plenty of aquatic vegetation.
Manatees and other wildlife must rely on natural resources found in their environment.
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Thomas Owens,
Police Officer
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Manatees have no predators.
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Josh Hogan,
Commander
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Manatees behaviorally maintain water balance by seeking out fresh water sources in marine environments.
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