Manatee Springs

Sirenian Evolution

The ancestor to modern Sirenians was a land dwelling herbivore

Sirenian Evolution

Sirenian Evolution

During the Eocene the land dwelling ancestor moved into water to feed on sea grasses

Sirenian Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Mammalia

• Order: Sirenia (L, My. Siren, a mermaid type creature)

• Family: two families (dugongs and manatees)

• Genus: two genera (dugongs and manatees)

• Species: 4 existing species, 1 extinct

Several species of Sirenians are found worldwide

• West Indian manatee

– Florida population

– Caribbean population

• West African manatee

• Amazonian manatee

• Dugong

• Steller’s sea cow (EX)

Several species of Sirenians are found worldwide

African Manatee & Amazonian Manatee

Range:< African Manatee

Amazonian Manatee>

The DugongThe last population of Stellar's Sea Cow was discovered by a Russian expedition wrecked on Bering Island in 1741. The genus is thought to have become extinct by 1768. (left)

Range of the Dugong (below)

The Extinct Stellar’s Sea Cow

Range of the West Indian Manatee Florida Population

Range: Southeastern North America…As far north as Virginia (seasonal) south to the Florida coast around to the Gulf of Mexico

Coastal waters, rivers and estuaries

Field Notes • Common name: Florida or West

Indian Manatee

• Scientific name: Trichechus manatus latirostris

• Range: Southeastern United States

• Habitat: Coastal wetlands

• Diet: In the wild: Aquatic plants

At the Zoo: Romaine lettuce, carrots, monkey biscuits, sweet potatoes, apples, cabbage, greens

• Status in the Wild: Endangered (IUCN)

• Status in AZA Zoos: Nine Zoos and aquariums are involved in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Program.

Characteristics of the Manatee

• The closest living relative of the manatee and dugong is the elephant. Teeth and digestive system are similar.

• Manatees don’t have a buoyant fat that many other marine mammals, such as whales, do have. So their lungs are located along their backside. The location and shape of the lungs helps in their ability to float in the water.

• Solid rib bones weigh the manatee down so it can feed on the bottom without using a great deal of energy.

• Though it is streamlined to move through the water, manatees are slow swimmers, only 3-5 miles per hour.

• Sirenians (manatees and dugongs) are the only herbivorous mammals specifically designed to live their entire lives in water.

Characteristics of the Manatee

• Manatees don’t have a buoyant fat that many other marine mammals, such as whales, do have. So their lungs are located along their backside. The location and shape of the lungs helps in their ability to float in the water.

Threats to Manatees

• Docility, tasty flesh and a low reproductive

rate were historical threats to the manatee and

dugongs of the world.

• Natural threats include

exposure to red tide,

cold stress, disease and

being orphaned

Threats to Manatees

• Man-made threats include boat strikes, being crushed by flood gates or locks and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear

How We are Helping Manatees

• Sick and injured manatees are reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which is responsible for coordinating manatee rescues in Florida. Rescued animals needing additional medical treatment are taken to one of three federally permitted manatee critical care facilities: Lowry Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, and SeaWorld Florida.

• Following treatment, these manatees are transferred to other program partner facilities for additional rehabilitation while awaiting release. These include the Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Zoo, EPCOT’s The Seas, South Florida Museum, and the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. The Cincinnati and Columbus Zoos are the only manatee rehabilitation facilities outside the state of Florida.

How We are Helping Manatees: Rescue

How We are Helping Manatees: Rehab

➢Shipping container (top left)➢Manatee swimming out of (sling bottom left)➢ A bit of splashing! (above)

How We are Helping Manatees: Rehab

• The manatees are fed a mix of greens such as romaine lettuce in feeders that hold the food on the bottom of the tank mimicking how they would feed in the wild.

How We are Helping Manatees: Release

This view shows the padding inside the container with an animal (Lil Joe) in the sling. Over head pulley lift system in our building lifts the sling into the holding pool.

How We are Helping Manatees: Release

Some manatees are radio tagged before they are released so their movements can be tracked. Post-release monitoring is a critical part of the process for some released manatees and includes tagging, tracking, and assessing the health of released manatees to ensure they are adapting to wild conditions. Monitoring also teaches us about preferred manatee habitats and travel paths.

Betsy and Bam Bam• CINCINNATI (October 18,

2017) – Popular manatees Betsy and Bam Bam have left the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to return to Florida waters. This is good news for the species but bittersweet for divers, care team members and visitors who have become attached to the charismatic animals, especially long-time resident Betsy.

How We are Helping ManateesOur New Manatees

How We are Helping ManateesOur New Manatees

• About the New Residents of Manatee Springs:• Pippen (Male) was rescued from the Halifax River on

7/20/2016 weighing only 58 pounds. After receiving critical care at Sea World Orlando, his weight is now 225 pounds. He is the smallest manatee ever to live at Cincinnati Zoo’s Manatee Springs.

• Miles (Male) was rescued from the Sykes Creek on Merritt Island on 8/17/2016 and weighed only 43 pounds. After receiving critical care at Sea World Orlando, his weight is now 320 pounds.

• Matthew (Male) was rescued from New Smyrna on 10/9/2016, right after Hurricane Matthew. He weighed 56 pounds and is now up to 340 pounds.

How We are Helping ManateesOur New Manatees

A total of 13 manatees have been rehabilitated and returned to the wild in our zoo’s program.

1 will remain captive “Betsy”

1 is pending release “Bam Bam”

3 are housed here now to be released in future years

18 Manatees cared for at our Zoo’s Manatee Springs!

Saving Manatees and the CZBG

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