Endangered species: moneymaker for manatees.Manatees are very friendly creatures and they're curious," says 15-year-old Heather McAteer, who has raised big bucks to help save these endangered en·dan·ger tr.v. en·dan·gered, en·dan·ger·ing, en·dan·gers 1. To expose to harm or danger; imperil. 2. To threaten with extinction. aquatic mammals The class Mammalia (the Mammals) is divided into two subclasses based on reproductive techniques: egg laying mammals (the Monotremes); and mammals which give live birth. The latter subclass is divided into two infraclasses: pouched mammals (the marsupials); and the placental mammals. . "They'll swim right up to your boat," she adds. That habit helped land the manatee manatee: see sirenian. manatee Any of three species (family Trichechidae) of slow-moving, shallow-water herbivorous mammals. Manatees have a tapered body ending in a rounded flipper, no hind flippers, and foreflippers near the head. on the endangered-species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that 25 percent of manatee deaths in this country are caused by collisions with boats. Other manatees die when they get trapped in canals or eat fish hooks or litter. But perhaps the biggest danger manatees face is destruction of their watery wa·ter·y adj. 1. Filled with, consisting of, or soaked with water; wet or soggy. 2. Secreting or discharging water or watery fluid, especially as a symptom of disease. habitat by humans. "People are the manatees, only natural enemies," McAteer points out. And people like McAteer are the species, only chance for survival. This sophomore at Central Catholic High School in Palm Bay, Florida Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The city estimated its population at 107,538 on 28 July 2007;[3]; it is the most populous city in the county. , makes clay manatee sculptures and jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. to raise money for the species. People buy her creations at crafts fairs, Epcot Center, and Disney World. McAteer donates 20 percent of her gross profits--about $5,000 so far--to the Florida Audubon Society. The Audubon Society uses the money to help fund manatee research and educate the public about boating speed limits and other laws that help protect the animals. McAteer acts as an educator, too. "Some of the people who come to the crafts fairs don't even know what a manatee is," she reports. "They say ,Hey, these are cute little walruses.", That's when McAteer starts passing out brochures--and manatee facts. For instance, she might tell a confused tourist that manatees are closely related to elephants. Or that the average adult manatee is 3m (10 ft) long and weighs up to 450kg (1,000lbs). The gentle creatures are strictly vegetarians, she may add. Educating people is what McAteer enjoys most about her business. What's the worst part? Mass production. McAteer estimates that after seven years in business, her manatee sculptures now outnumber out·num·ber tr.v. out·num·bered, out·num·ber·ing, out·num·bers To exceed the number of; be more numerous than. outnumber Verb to exceed in number: the approximately 1,800 animals that remain in the wild. Sometimes McAteer gets discouraged by people's lack of caring about the manatee. But she says it's important to be persistent. "Our endangered-species list is rapidly growing," McAteer points out. "There is hope, but only if we start now. `Endangered' means we still have a chance, but `extinct' is forever." |
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