Manatees don"t rush through life—they float. These gentle giants of the sea have been gliding through warm waters for millions of years, minding their own business and munching on seagrass. But despite their laid-back nature, they face serious threats. There are three species of manatees: the West Indian, the Amazonian and the African manatee. The West Indian manatee, which includes the Florida manatee, can grow up to 4 metres long and weigh over 450 kilograms. These peaceful creatures spend most of their time grazing and napping. They have no natural predators, but human activity poses a major risk. Boat strikes are a leading cause of injury and death, as these marine mammals are too slow to dodge speeding vessels. Habitat loss and pollution also threaten their survival. Conservation efforts, including speed limits in manatee zones and habitat protection, have helped, but these sea cows still need all the support they can get.
Manatee in Crystal River, Florida, United States
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
-
Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
-
Roller coaster in Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan
-
Bohemian waxwings
-
Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
-
Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
-
Misty mountain hop
-
Macaroni penguins
-
River Thames, London, England
-
Hang Sơn Đoòng, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam
-
Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
-
The lord of all beginnings
-
When landscape met wilderness
-
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
-
Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
-
Heaven meets Earth!
-
Kargil Vijay Diwas
-
On the trail of the Indian eagle-owl
-
Chinese New Year
-
World Octopus Day
-
A temple to treasure
-
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA
-
A plant for all occasions
-
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
-
Ring of fire solar eclipse
-
Purple mountain majesties
-
Ive got a lot of problems with you penguins!
-
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
-
American bison
-
All is calm