So on special request by older gnomelet, Mama gnome presents,
"Mystery Animal of the Day."
This animal is a true vegetarian, a creature after Mama gnome's own heart.
It noshes on seagrass all day.
It is shy and unassuming and part of its mystique has led to myths of mermaids and sirens of the deep.
Yes, it has the tail befitting a mermaid and a face befitting a gentle elephant with a short trunk for its closest land relative is the elephant.
If you've guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the manatee, please don't forget to
celebrate Earth Day this April 22, 2011 and participate in A Billion Acts of Green.
West Indian ManateeManatees are sirenians or sea cows. Dugongs are also sirenians.
Manatees can grow up to 3 meters or 13 feet in length. They can weigh up to 600 kilograms or 1300 pounds. They use their large upper lip to eat and gather food. Their tail is paddle shaped.
There are three species of manatees: the Amazonian manatee, West African manatee, and West Indian manatee.
All three species are listed vulnerable by IUCN with threats "due primarily to ongoing levels of hunting, sometimes involving new and sophisticated techniques, coupled with increasing incidental calf mortality, climate change and habitat loss and degradation."
The main threat to the Amazonian manatee is illegal hunting. Poachers use nets and harpoons to kill these gentle seacows. The Amazonian manatees are also threatened by
deforestation and contamination of their habitat by mercury, oil, pesticides, and gold mining. Hydroelectric dams are also a significant threat and Brazil for one has planned 400 dams.
The subspecies of the West Indian manatees: the Florida manatees and Antillean manatees are listed as Endangered by IUCN.
Mama gnome doesn't understand why they wouldn't just list the West Indian manatees as endangered when the two subspecies are endangered with less than 2,500 mature individuals and the trend for the population is 20% decline over the next 40 years.
Let's just say it, these animals ARE ENDANGERED.
They are endangered because of watercraft collisions.
"Watercraft collisions are the single greatest cause of human-related mortality."
"In 2005, there were over one million registered vessels in Florida."
If the injured manatees are not killed they are severely mutilated and have a poor chance of survival.
The West Indian manatees are also threatened by loss of habitat,"entanglement (in fishing gear or debris), entrapment in water-control structures and pipes, exposure to contaminants, incidental ingestion of debris, and crushing (in flood-control structures, in canal locks, or between large ships and docks."
In addition to man-made threats, West Indian manatees also face natural threats including red tide, hurricanes, and prolonged periods of cold weather.
West African manatees are found along the warm coastal waters of Africa, and in major rivers and lakes of West and Central Africa.
Poaching is the primary threat to West African manatees. Even though they are "protected", "Manatee meat is openly sold in local markets."
According to IUCN other threats include habitat loss because of "damming of rivers, cutting of mangroves for firewood and destruction of wetlands for agricultural development."
Manatees have been caught up in the turbines with reports of as many as six manatee killed at one time below Kainjii dam, Nigeria.
video by: BBCWorldwide
Mama gnome would like to eat sea grass with a vengeance, flip her large paddle shaped tail and swim after terrible humans who drive their huge speedy boats without remorse killing and maiming gentle sirenians of the deep.
Please be part of the sea cow army and go green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
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