Manatee awareness

Manatee Awareness is the movement to promote awareness of the existence of the noble sea cow.

Various organizations are advocates of Manatee Awareness including the MAPR ^[1], the Save the Manatee Club, Manatee Awareness Coalition, among others.

Due the increasing manatee mortality rates since 2006^[2], many manatee hi world have started programs to support the awareness of these marine creatures. West Indian manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Many manatee mortalities are human-related. Most human-related manatee mortalities occur from collisions with watercraft. Other causes of human-related manatee mortalities include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter and monofilament line; and entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, however, loss of habitat and human stupidity is the most serious threat facing manatees today. There are approximately 3,000 West Indian manatees left in the United States.^[3] Rarely are manatees brought up in day-to-day conversation, but Manatee Awareness programs seek to change this in order to protect the lives of these noble creatures.

Manatee Appreciation Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday of March in the United States. Florida celebrates Manatee Awareness Month during November^[4], which has been endorsed by comedian Alec Baldwin^[5].

References

1. ^ http://www.flmapr.org/
2. ^ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/FISH/southflorida/news/manatee2006.html
3. ^ http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm
4. ^ http://www.savethemanatee.org/news_pr_mam_.htm
5. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-08-01-baldwin-manatees_N.htm

See also

• Manatee
• Save the Manatee