Manatees or West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) are one of the endemic species of the Mexican Caribbean. They are hefty and are around 2.5 and 3.5 meters long, weighing approximately 200 and 600 kilograms, and being the female of this species, bigger than the male. They have two flippers with 3 and even 4 nails each, and a tail that moves up and down and allows them to propel forward in the water. The Mexican Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are two of their habitats and they love to live in the shores, with waters more than 1 meter of depth and temperatures of more than 21ºC.
They are herbivores and eat around 15% of their body weight each day, eating many kinds of plants and being seagrass their favorite. Surprisingly, as their food is too abrasive, their molars are substituted many times through the life of these incredible sea friends.
Manatees are friendly marine mammals that swim slow but with agility, it enjoys loneliness but during reproductive time, they form mating groups. The gestation period of Manatees is around a year and each female has 1 and even 2 babies every two to five years.
Unfortunately they are suffering for the destruction and pollution of their habitat, as well as other threats such as hunting, natural disasters, “ecotourism”, human constructions near their habitats, fishing, etc. So, in order for future generations to be able to enjoy the company of these amazing creatures, we all have to help in the protection, preservation and conservation not only of their habitat but the Manatee and their babies themselves, by being responsible tourists and human beings.
Bekare Transfers invites you to carry out sustainable practices in order to help our planet heal!