Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Manatees

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Scientists Collaborate to Publish First Abundance Estimate of Greater Caribbean Manatees in Belize

Researchers from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), in collaboration with partners across the United States, Belize and the wider Caribbean, have published the first statistically robust estimate of the population abundance and distribution of the Greater Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Belize.

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Manatee Tracking – Tawana

“Tawana” was first observed at Salt Spring, Florida in January 2019 by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) while they were conducting their photo identification study for manatee use at springs in the lower St. Johns River.

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Manatee Tracking – Krayt

A full health assessment was conducted on a ten-foot adult male manatee named “Krayt” on June 17, 2025 in Haynes Creek within the Chain-of-Lakes near Lisbon, Florida by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) through the collaborative effort from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Aquarium (GAI), SeaWorld Orlando (SWO), Brevard Zoo and St. Johns Water Management District.

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Manatee Tracking – Curious

A full health assessment was conducted on a nine-foot adult male manatee named “Curious” on June 18, 2025 in Haynes Creek within the Chain-of-Lakes near Lisbon, Florida by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) through the collaborative effort from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Aquarium (GAI), SeaWorld Orlando (SWO), Brevard Zoo and St. Johns Water Management District.

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Manatee Tracking – Prince

A full health assessment was conducted on a 10.5 foot adult male manatee named “Prince” on June 17, 2025 in Haynes Creek within the Chain-of-Lakes near Lisbon, Florida by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) through the collaborative effort from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Aquarium (GAI), SeaWorld Orlando (SWO), Brevard Zoo and St. Johns Water Management District.

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Manatee Tracking – Kottke

A full health assessment was conducted on a nine-and-a-half-foot adult male manatee named Kottke on April 30, 2025 at Cumberland Island, Georgia through the collaborative effort between Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Georgia Aquarium (GAI), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and many other partners.

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Manatee Tracking – Trucks

A ten-and-a-half-foot adult male manatee named Trucks was located and tagged on April 30, 2024 at Cumberland Island, Georgia through the collaborative effort between Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Georgia Aquarium (GAQ), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and other organizations. Trucks received a full health assessment checkup from GAQ and CMARI veterinarian staff and was outfitted with a GPS satellite tag to closely monitor his travels as part of our manatee Northern Atlantic Coast Manatee Movement study. The project will collect crucial habitat use and health data to help manage threats to manatees that migrate northward into coastal Georgia and the Carolinas during the warmer months of the year. Working in cooperation with state and federal agencies, data collected from this project will also be utilized to gain a better understanding of how manatees are adapting their movement and use of habitat post the loss of food sources along the east coast of Florida which was a major contributing factor to the manatee Unusual Mortality Event in recent years.

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Manatee Tracking – Larmore

A full health assessment was conducted on a ten adult female manatee named Larmore on May 1, 2025 at Cumberland Island, Georgia through the collaborative effort between Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Georgia Aquarium (GAI), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and many other partners.

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Inaugural Workshop Advances Conservation Efforts Through The Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance

Conservation leaders from across the Caribbean gathered in the Dominican Republic from February 26-28, 2025, for the inaugural workshop of the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA). Hosted by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) and local partner FUNDEMAR, the workshop brought together 32 participants from 17 Caribbean countries and 27 institutions, including aquariums, NGOs, government agencies, and universities, to advance manatee conservation efforts across the region.

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Manatee Tracking – Vito

A full health assessment was conducted on a ten-foot adult male manatee named Vito on August 19, 2024 north of Savannah, Georgia through the collaborative effort between Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Georgia Aquarium (GAI), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and many other partners. Vito received a complete health checkup by CMARI, GAI and University of Florida veterinarian staff. He was also outfitted with a GPS satellite tag to closely monitor his travels as part of our manatee Northern Atlantic Coast Manatee Movement study. The project will collect crucial habitat use and health data to help manage threats to manatees that migrate northward into coastal Georgia and the Carolinas during the warmer months of the year. Working in cooperation with state and federal agencies, data collected from this project will also be utilized to gain a better understanding of how manatees adjusted to the drastic loss of food sources along the east coast of Florida which was the primary contributing factor to the manatee Unusual Mortality Event in recent years.

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