Read original post of article here: https://millennialandassociates.com/2019/10/05/adopting-a-manatee/
A manatee, also known as a sea cow, is an aquatic mammal that has a tail like a platypus and a larger rotund body with two large flippers on each side. Their faces have a somewhat walrus appearance and many have scars on their backs. These creatures usually weigh between 800 and 1,200 pounds and can be found in many states that border the Atlantic Ocean.
The nickname “sea cow” comes from their slow-moving nature and that they eat mostly plants in the ocean. Because they are mammals, they must come to the surface every few minutes to breathe, otherwise they mostly remain submerged. These animals are also very friendly; so much so that they approach passing boats thinking they are another animal and end up with many scars on their backs caused by the boat’s motor blades slicing into them.
There are other human-related reasons manatees are dwindling in numbers but the main cause is loss of habitat, and, according to SaveTheManatee.org, the population is roughly at 5,733 total manatees as of the beginning of 2019. The population also will not grow quickly due to their slow reproduction time. Manatees don’t start mating until around five years old, carry a calf for a year, and then nurse the calf for another one to two years.
There are certain laws and acts that protect these species from being killed or hunted and there are also certain restrictions in Florida to protect manatees from boats in certain areas of water. However, the conservation doesn’t just rely on these groups or lawmakers. “Save the Manatee Club” was created to protect manatees and to be an advocate for these animals in future legislations and to educate the public.
One way in which anyone can help is by “adopting” a manatee. Save the Manatee highlights real manatees being tracked in the Florida area. You can see pictures, names and a little history about each manatee. There is Brutus who they have been tracking since 1970 and who weighs nearly 1,800 pounds. There’s also Ginger who has been tracked since 1994 and who has given birth to at least two calves, one of which the organization named Ale.
With a minimum of $25 a year, you can adopt a manatee and get a certificate of adoption, booklet about manatees, and their monthly manatee newsletter. In addition, this money goes to help this group continue to provide the much-needed protection of these animals and to help keep them from going extinct.
Many animal species are in desperate need of conservation and protection, and manatees are just one on the long list. However, with manatees, these creatures have no natural enemies and seem to be dying mostly due to human action. Adopting a manatee, lending your voice to future legislations, or even just educating those who do not understand the need for conservation are all great ways to help not only manatees but also the entire ecosystem.
* Information for this article was obtained from Save the Manatee, a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) and membership-based organization established in 1981 by renowned singer/songwriter, Jimmy Buffett, and former U.S. Senator, Bob Graham. Its mission is to protect manatees and their aquatic habitat for future generations.
