Anecdotal Accounts of Manatee Behavior: Conservation and Management, Behavioral Ecology, and Cognition

Abstract

Herein, we report anecdotes of manatee (family Trichechidae) behavior based upon accounts made by experienced observers. We have categorized the anecdotes into the broad categories of Conservation and Management (interactions with boats, people, and capture nets; rehabilitation and release), Behavioral Ecology (navigation, mother–calf interactions, interactions with conspecifics, mating behavior and birthing, anti-predator behavior, foraging and eating), and Cognition (sensory perception; learning, memory, and knowledge; interactions with objects, other species, and people; and mimetic behavior). These are all subjects that pertain to the goals of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan of 2001. We found that many accounts report similar behaviors, suggesting that these may be fruitful lines of further inquiry. One subcategory, Navigation, appears to offer many research areas amenable to systematic study. The apparent behavioral flexibility and knowledge shown in manatee actions in several domains suggest that investigations of manatee intelligence are likely to be revealing.

Manatees in Zoological Parks throughout the World: History, State, and Welfare

“…Object manipulations and play with objects were observed in manatees during different scientific experiments [35,36] and were interpreted as play behaviours. This play activity was also observed during interactions with conspecifics or with other species including humans [16]. However, manatee temperament [36,37] may modify social interactions, play behaviours, and manipulations of social or physical objects.…”

“…Numerous anecdotes and observations indicate that manatees possess significant cognitive abilities-they display play behaviours, interact with their physical and social environment (i.e., conspecifics and other species including humans), mimic others' behaviours, and demonstrate social learning abilities [16]. For example, when human-reared manatees are reintroduced to their natural environment, they exhibit less severe responses, specifically avoidance, to anthropogenic disturbances than their wild conspecifics [33].…”

“…There is little experimental research on the learning abilities of manatees, although evidence suggests that they may share cognitive abilities like those of their closest relatives, elephants [34], which show a remarkable aptitude for learning and memory [14][15][16]. In a recent study, Henaut et al [35] show that a manatee was able to discriminate and associate geometrical forms using food rewards.…”

“…Manatees possess a well-developed sense of touch (tactile sense) and demonstrate interest in a great variety of objects they spend time with and enjoy manipulating [16]. In their natural habitats, individuals are frequently observed engaging in tactile exploration or interaction with their surroundings, as well as exhibiting harassment towards other species such as alligators [16]. During experimental research, some individuals approached and interacted with new objects [35,36].…”

“…A biocentric approach that considers their ecological and social context [14] and research on their cognition in the wild [15] are key components needed to help zoos manage manatee groups and to contribute to their conservation. Reep and Bauer [16] report numerous anecdotes on Florida manatee behaviour that reveal that their intelligence is an important factor that requires further research. Furthermore, the presence of manatees in zoological institutions worldwide and an increase in tourism activities in their natural habitat highlight the need to consider manatee cognition to provide insights and perspectives on the welfare of these animals, whether under human care or interacting with humans in their natural habitats.…”