History of Manatee in Timeline

Manatees, also known as sea cows, are large, herbivorous marine mammals. Three species exist: Amazonian, West Indian, and West African manatees. They are fully aquatic, reaching up to 4 meters in length and 590 kg in weight, characterized by their paddle-like tails. As members of the order Sirenia, they are an integral part of marine ecosystems.

July 21, 1948: Snooty's Birth

On July 21, 1948, Snooty, the oldest manatee in captivity, was born at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company.

1967: West Indian Manatees Classified as Endangered

In 1967, West Indian manatees were originally classified as endangered.

1973: Brazil Outlaws Hunting

In 1973, Brazil outlawed hunting in an effort to preserve the Amazonian manatee species.

1982: Red Tide Manatee Deaths

In 1982, a red tide killed 37 manatees in Florida.

1992: Increased Boat Mortality Rates

Since 1992, observed boat mortality rates increased, leading to dire predictions for manatee recovery in the Atlantic and Southwest regions.

1994: Lack of Enforced Laws

As of 1994, despite protections in place for Amazonian manatees, there were no enforced laws, and manatees were still being captured throughout their range.

1995: Manatee Sighting

In 1995, a manatee was sighted as far north as New York City, indicating the species' ability to travel long distances.

1996: Red Tide Manatee Deaths

In 1996, a red tide was responsible for 151 manatee deaths in Florida, killing approximately 15% of the known population along South Florida's western coast.

1996: Manatee Winter Survey in Florida

In 1996, a winter survey in Florida found 2,639 manatees. This count is part of a series of variable population estimates for the species.

1997: Population Viability Studies

In 1997, population viability studies indicated that decreasing adult survival rates made eventual extinction probable for Florida manatees without increased protection.

1997: Manatee Surveys in Florida

In 1997, surveys in Florida found 2,229 manatees in January and 1,706 in February, highlighting the variability in population counts.

1999: Manatee Bay Facility Opens

Since 1999, the Columbus Zoo's Manatee Bay facility has helped rehabilitate 20 manatees.

2001: Columbus Zoo Founding Member

In 2001, the Columbus Zoo became a founding member of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership.

2002: High Number of Manatee Deaths Due to Watercraft

In 2002, 95 Florida manatees were killed by commercial and recreational vessels.

2003: Population Model Release

In 2003, the United States Geological Survey released a population model predicting a grave situation for manatees in the Southwest and Atlantic regions.

2005: Red Tide Manatee Deaths

In 2005, a red tide resulted in 44 manatee deaths in Florida.

2006: Manatee Sightings in Northern Areas

In 2006, a manatee was seen in New York City and Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay, and another was spotted in Memphis, Tennessee, though it later died.

2009: Record Number of Manatee Deaths Due to Watercraft

In 2009, 97 Florida manatees were killed by commercial and recreational vessels, surpassing the previous record of 95 in 2002.

January 2010: Record Manatee Count in Florida

In January 2010, a statewide synoptic survey found 5,067 manatees living in Florida, marking the highest number recorded up to that time.

January 2016: West Indian Manatee Population Estimate

As of January 2016, the USFWS estimated the range-wide West Indian manatee population to be at least 13,000.

January 2016: Proposed Downgrading of Manatee Status

In January 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed downgrading the manatee's status from endangered to threatened after more than 40 years.

January 2016: High Manatee Death Toll

In January 2016, there were 43 manatee deaths in Florida alone, contributing to the approximately 99 manatee deaths each year related to human activities.

February 2016: Manatee Count in Florida Springs

As of February 2016, 6,250 manatees were reported swimming in Florida's springs.

March 2017: Manatee Status Downgraded to Threatened

In March 2017, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service downgraded the West Indian manatee's status from "endangered" to "threatened", citing improvements to habitat conditions, population growth and reductions of threats, a decision met with controversy.

July 23, 2017: Snooty's Death

Snooty died suddenly on July 23, 2017, two days after his 69th birthday, after swimming into a plumbing access area.

January 2018: Florida Manatee Population Estimate

As of January 2018, at least 6,100 manatees were estimated to be in Florida.

February 2020: Unusual Manatee Death in New Jersey

In February 2020, a manatee was found dead on a New Jersey beach, which was considered unusual due to the cold water temperatures at the time.

2020: Florida Manatee Deaths

In 2020, the number of manatee deaths in the state of Florida was 637.

2021: Seagrass Die-Off and Manatee Starvation

In 2021, a massive die-off of seagrass along the Atlantic coast of Florida led to widespread manatee starvation and deaths.

2021: Sharp Increase in Manatee Deaths

In 2021, manatee deaths in Florida nearly doubled from 637 in 2020 to 1100.

November 2022: Red Tide Manatee Deaths

Beginning in November 2022, a red tide killed 123 manatees by June 2023.

2022: Discovery of New Manatee Habitat

In 2022, a new manatee habitat was discovered by Klaus Thymann within the cenotes of Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve on the Yucatán Peninsula.

2022: Manatee Deaths in Florida

In 2022, the number of manatee deaths in Florida was 800.

2022: Manatee Feeding Program Initiated

In early 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began a feeding program, distributing 3,000 pounds of lettuce per day to malnourished manatees in Florida.