Candid Camera!

 This blog was created to allow the public to follow two manatees, Rita and her calf Georgie, as scientists track them after their release back into the wild. Please return for weekly updates. As requested, here are some photos from the Berry Islands Manatee Project. 

 Manatees are very tactile animals as demonstrated in this interaction between Georgie and her mother, Rita.

A healthy manatee can appear quite rotund. The average adult manatee is 9.8 feet (3 meters) long and can weigh up to 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms). 

Rita swims over to check out the camera! 

Hi, my name is Rita and I’m a manatee! 

Georgie shows off her toe nails!

Indira Brown (Department of Marine Resources) and Kendria Ferguson (BMMRO) observe Rita and Georgie. 

Like all mammals, manatees have hair; although it is found all over their body it is primarily on their face and around their mouth. Also known as whiskers, they use these hairs to navigate and explore their environment. They are able to gather information about the shapes and textures of objects or surfaces they encounter. 

 

Marine mammals also breathe air. Manatees must return to the water’s surface to breathe air through their two nostrils (closed in this photo). Manatees have two very large lungs that extend along their back to their anus. 


To learn more about the anatomy of manatees, please visit http://www.savethemanatee.org/anatomy2.htm.

Jim Reid (USGS) and Kendria track Rita and Georgie in the harbour. 

Georgie investigates BMMRO's boat. 

The tracking team share manatee inspired jokes!