At Georgia Aquarium, we are dedicated to the conservation of marine life. Our ongoing research and conservation efforts for manatees are a testament to this commitment. Manatees are gentle giants of the water, but they face serious health stressors such as boat strikes and cold stress. To ensure their survival and better understand their needs, Georgia Aquarium and other Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation partners participate in annual research trips, assessing the health and habitat usage of manatee populations off the coast of Georgia.
Annual Health Assessments
Since 2015, our team, along with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partners, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and many other institutions, have collaborated to carry out health assessments on manatees near Cumberland Island and Savannah. These health assessments involve thorough physical examinations and measuring physiological parameters such as temperature, respiration, average heart rate, and backfat thickness using ultrasound.
Biological samples, including blood, feces, urine, and microbiome swabs, are also collected. These samples provide insights into the manatees’ current health status, helping us identify potential health issues and monitor their overall well-being. Animals are also tagged with tracking devices if they do not already have one.
The Purpose of Our Research
Our primary goal is to assess the current health of manatees and better understand their habitat usage. Our teams can gather valuable data on their movements and health status by examining animals tagged on previous trips. This information is crucial, especially considering the current unusual mortality event (UME) affecting manatees. Understanding the factors contributing to these mortalities helps guide our future conservation efforts.
Key Findings and Their Significance
During our most recent assessments, we examined ten manatees, eight of which were first-time captures, while two were recaptures. Recapturing previously tagged manatees is particularly valuable, as it allows us to track their progress and confirm their survival and thriving status since their last assessment. This longitudinal data is instrumental in understanding manatee health trends and the effectiveness of our conservation strategies.
The data collected from tagged animals also offers a glimpse into their habitat usage. Tracking these movements helps us compare the health of manatees in different regions and environmental conditions, providing a comprehensive picture of their well-being.
Participation in the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP)
In addition to our research efforts, Georgia Aquarium plays a vital role in the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) as a holding facility for injured or abandoned manatees. This partnership is crucial for rehabilitating and eventually releasing manatees back into the ocean.
Recently, we welcomed two new manatee calves, TayTay and Cider, to our offsite facility. Both animals came to us after being found abandoned and suffering from cold stress. TayTay also needed treatment for a boat strike injury. They are both currently doing well in our care. Both manatees will be in our care until next year, when they become eligible for release after they gain the necessary weight.
Our primary contribution to the MRP involves providing holding space for manatees that need time to gain weight, allowing other facilities to focus on more critical cases. We also support the partnership by providing staff to assist with transports, rescues, and releases. This collaborative effort ensures that manatees receive the best possible care and have the highest chance of successful rehabilitation and reintegration into their natural habitat.
The Road Ahead for Manatee Conservation
Our ongoing research efforts are vital in addressing the challenges faced by manatees. By continually monitoring their health and habitat usage, we can adapt our conservation strategies to better protect these vulnerable animals. The collaboration of multiple institutions and the dedication of volunteers play a crucial role in the success of these efforts.
As we continue our work, we remain committed to ensuring the conservation of manatees in Georgia’s coastal waters. Through comprehensive health assessments and detailed habitat analysis, we are building a foundation for informed conservation decisions that will benefit manatees for generations to come.
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Georgia Aquarium is a leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Atlanta, Ga. that is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Georgia Aquarium is committed to working on behalf of all marine life through education, preservation, exceptional animal care, and research across the globe. Georgia Aquarium continues its mission each day to inspire, educate, and entertain its millions of guests about the aquatic biodiversity throughout the world through its engaging exhibits and tens of thousands of animals across its eight major galleries.
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