Three manatee snouts break the surface of the water in Nawel, Senegal
The West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is the most endangered and least understood member of the Order Sirenia. The species is endemic to rivers, estuaries and lagoon systems of the African Atlantic coast, ranging from Mauritania to Angola.
There are no recent estimates of abundance and the impact of hunting and habitat destruction are poorly documented, but the trade in manatee bushmeat is well known in West Africa. The species is in need of urgent attention if remaining viable populations are to persist.
Sea to Shore bilogist Lucy Keith leads two studies in West Africa to help save this vanishing species. Click on the project name below to learn more about these projects.