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 Dugong The 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 • Following treatment, these reported to the Florida Fish manatees are transferred to and Wildlife Conservation other program partner Commission which is facilities for additional responsible for coordinating rehabilitation while awaiting manatee rescues in Florida. release. These include the Rescued animals needing Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Zoo, additional medical treatment EPCOT’s The Seas, South are taken to one of three Florida Museum, and the Ellie federally permitted manatee Schiller Homosassa Springs critical care facilities: Lowry State Wildlife Park. The Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, Cincinnati and Columbus Zoos and SeaWorld Florida. 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. • CINCINNATI (October 18, Betsy and Bam Bam 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 Manatees Our New Manatees How We are Helping Manatees Our 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 Manatees Our New Manatees Saving Manatees and the CZBG

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! Questions???