

Reports
Timothy Dwight Elementary School
Manatees
Did you know that manatees can live to be 60 years old? They can. Manatees can live in saltwater or freshwater. They are large, gentle mammals, too. Their skin looks smooth and their body looks grayish-brown. Most manatees weigh 500 pounds and are nine feet long. Females are usually bigger than males. Some mantees can weigh up to 3,000 pounds. A mantees tail acts like a paddle. Manatees live in the shallow coastal waters near the ocean. They live in the United States and the waters of Florida and Southern Georgia. Manatees eat algae and grass. They could eat 100 pounds of food a day. Babies are 4 feet long and weigh 60 pounds. They stay with their mother for two years. A baby learns what to eat and where to migrate to find warm water. Manatee’s enemies are people because they they get hit by boats, eat fishhooks left inthe water and eat garbage. In the United States there are 2,600 manatees left. Today people are trying to help manatees by putting them in wildlife parks, aquariums and zoos. People were already trying to help them by protecting their homes. In Florida it is against the law to hurt them. |
Dutch translation will be added soon. |
Written by: Daniel |
(geschreven door) |

Copyright 1997, 2000 - Joan Goble and René de Vries