Historically, manatees were hunted by Native Americans and later by colonists. They became victims, hunted almost to extinction. Manatee fat was used for lamp oil, bones were used for medicinal purposes, and the hide for leather. This hunting has been largely responsible for the manatee's initial decline.

See our story about the endangered status of manatees, and how you can help protect these gentle giants.


Where else to browse:
http://www.jyu.fi/~ala/ilmasto/steller.htm http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nwr/fl_cryst.htm
http://www.sirenian.org/
http://www.earthwatch.org/
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/8764/main.htm
http://www.floridive.com/index4.htm


Manatees often rest suspended just below the water's surface with only the snout above water. They feed underwater but surface for air periodically about every three to five mintues. When dozing on the bottom, they balance on their head and tail, bowing in the middle oblivious to the fact that the world around them is moving much too fast for them and may well be the last leisure generation left in the US.

We swam in the inlets for a while, where the manatees prefer the warm, shallow water and abundant sea grass. We then left the sanctuary and headed toward deeper waters where, once again, we fastened our underwater cameras to our arms and quietly lowered ourselves into the water.

We found ourselves surrounded by a graceful underwater trio, a mum and two younger manatees playing, two of which seemed to be kissing. We became still, to quietly observe manatees in the water, is a thing of beauty. Soon we felt the first nudge, and after that the manatees swam around us seemingly oblivious to our presence. They twirled and spun through the water, then would rest by our knees to be rubbed. They seem to particularly enjoy being scratched under their flippers. You never have to worry as these giants are always gentle.

There is truly a mystique about these fascinating aquatic mammals. They are loving, playful, loyal and charismatic creatures that people can watch with delight for hours. Once you have swam next to a mother and her newborn calf, it is inconceivable that anyone could hurt them. Like many visitors, we left with unforgettable memories and became avid supporters of protecting and preserving these friendly, docile creatures. We believe there is hope that the manatee may yet be saved from extinction, but the public needs to become aware of the problem.

We’d like to encourage many more travelers like ourselves to learn about the plight of these gentle giants by one little up-close and personal encounter. For us, it was such an amazing and heart-felt experience that we decided to become the proud adoptive parents of a real manatee. We hope you’ll do the same and help ensure that these beautiful creatures will continue to thrive for generations to come.

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