endangered animals

West Indian Manatee (Tichechus manatus latirostris) which is the Florida manatee, is found in the southeastern United States, mostly in Florida. West Indian manatees are large, gray-brown aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle- shaped tail. They have two flippers with three to four nails on each, and their head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The manatee's closest relative is the elephant and hyrax (a small furry animal that resembles a rodent). Manatees are gentle and slow-moving. Most of their time is spent eating, resting, and in travel. Manatees are completely herbivorous. They eat aquatic plants and can consume 10-15% of their body weight daily in vegetation.
Manatees are a tropical and subtropical species. They are susceptible to cold-related disease and, in the winter in Florida, gather near natural springs or warm water effluents of power plants or other industrial outfalls. Water temperatures below 70 degrees usually cause manatees to move into these warmer refuge areas. Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas. Manatees are migratory species. Within the United States, West Indian manatees are concentrated on Florida in the winter, but can be found in summer months as far west as Alabama and as far north as Virginia and the Carolinas.
West Indian manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Many manatee moralities are human-related. Most human-related manatee moralities occur from collisions with watercraft.
Other causes of human-related manatee moralities include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter and monofilament line; entanglement in crab trap lines; and vandalism.
The reproductive rate for manatees is slow. Female manatees are not sexually mature until five years old, and males are mature at approximately nine years of age. It is believed that on calf is born every two to five years; twins are rare. The gestation period is approximately 13 months.
Mothers nurse their young for a long period and a calf may remain dependent up its mother for up to two years.
Manatee mortality statistics for 1998 were not good. The Florida Department of Environment Protection (FDEP) reported that more manatees died from collisions with water craft in 1998 than in any other time recorded in history. Manatee deaths totaled 231 for 1998, and 66 of those manatees died from watercraft collisions. This is the highest number of manatees killed by watercraft on record. Sixty manatees were killed by watercraft in 1996, followed by 55 manatee deaths in 1997.
West Indian manatees in the United States are protected under federal law by the Marine Protection Act of 1972, ad the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which make it illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine animal mammal. West Indian manatees are also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 which states: "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee." Anyone convicted of violating Florida's state law faces a possible maximum fine of $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days. Conviction on the federal level is punishable by a fine up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison.
The state of Florida is special because the West Indian Manatee can be found here. There are some people who have never seen or heard of the manatee. I hope that one day the manatee population will increase so that it will no longer be an endangered species and it will be around for everyone to see.

Sources:
www.savethemanatee.orig/manfcts.htm
www.savethemanatee.org/places.htm

Nederlandse versie volgt z.s.m.

Written by: Jacky

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