Chapter III — Species of Special Concern 



Table 2. Known manatee mortality in the southeastern United States (excluding Puerto Rico) reported 

 through the manatee salvage and necropsy program, 1978-1995 



t Includes deaths due to entanglement and ingestion of marine debris, drowning in shrimp nets, poaching, 



vandalism, etc. 

 $ Includes deaths due to cold stress, other natural causes, and undetermined causes. 

 * Figures for 1995 are preliminary. 

 Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection 



In 1996, shortly before this report was completed, 

 two more synoptic surveys were conducted producing 

 total counts of 2,274 and 2,639 animals, respectively. 

 Because of variable environmental conditions that 

 determine manatee occurrence in warm-water refuges 

 and their visibility during a survey period, these 

 counts cannot be used to estimate population size 

 (except to indicate a minimum number), nor can they 

 be compared between years to detect trends. As a 

 result, the most recent count indicates only that the 

 Florida manatee population numbers at least 2,639 

 animals; lower counts before 1996 do not necessarily 

 indicate manatee numbers have increased. 



Outside of Florida, Antillean manatees appear to 

 occur in relatively isolated groups usually numbering 

 a few hundred animals or less. The largest known 

 groups include those along the southern Yucatan 

 Peninsula in Belize and Mexico and in Cuba, where 

 numbers may reach several hundred animals. Mana- 

 tee protection laws in these countries are weak or 

 poorly enforced. As a result, protection of the 

 southeastern United States population could determine 

 the species' long-term survival. 



West Indian manatees are listed as endangered 

 throughout their range under the Endangered Species 

 Act. Whereas the largest sources of human-related 



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