West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

The West Indian Manatee is a true Floridian. It has been enjoying the warm waters in and around Florida long before this area became a popular winter retreat and retirement Mecca.  As Florida's population swells and boating activities around our coastlines reach new levels, we need to ensure that we allow for this gentle giant.

Southwest Florida has one of the largest sub-populations of wild manatees in the country; it also has one of the highest human growth rates.  It is not surprising that, unfortunately, this region has one of the highest manatee mortality rates. 

Some 300-500 manatees spend the winter months in the Caloosahatchee River and Orange River because of the warm water outflow from the FPL power plant.  Manatee viewing  is available in winter near the Center from boats at  Manatee World and from the observation decks at Manatee Park

At the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, we believe that education is the key to providing a future for manatees.  It is our hope that a well-educated public will help ensure that the manatee will be around for generations to come. Their continued existence will symbolize a healthy environment, not only for them, but for us, and the entire web of life that makes this region so special.

There are currently interpretive displays at our Center where visitors can learn more about the manatee and its habitats.  The exhibits include more than just facts and figures -- they feature an interactive water resource display, a fully articulated manatee skeleton, and functional telemetry equipment that you can use to locate a simulated radio-tagged manatee.  (Sorry, we have no real manatees in our slash pines or cypress dome, not even in our flag pond!)

ManateeCam

Visit the Homosassa Wildlife Park ManateeCam, and you might just get to see a manatee swimming through the clear waters of the Homosassa Springs.  While there, check out the rest of the web site.  It contains information on manatees, where to see them, the rules for encountering them in the wild, plus more links.  

To learn more about the manatee we suggest you visit one of these excellent sites:  Save The Manatee Club;    Florida Marine Research Institute