The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a large aquatic mammal that belongs to the order Sirenia. 

They graze along the seabed and eat seagrasses, giving them the nickname “sea cow”.

There are two subspecies of the West Indian manatee: the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus).

The Florida manatee is indeed found in the waters of Costa Rica. This species of manatee inhabits the coastal areas of the Caribbean Sea, including the coasts of Central and South America.

In Costa Rica, manatees have been reported in various locations along the country's Caribbean coastline, as well as in river estuaries in Barra del Colorado located in the northeastern zone of Limón Province. 

Manatees are primarily herbivorous marine mammals that inhabit warm, slow-moving waters. While they are generally considered to be inshore animals, they can travel through saltwater and freshwater environments.

The amazing marine animals have a large, cylindrical body with a rounded tail, paddle-like flippers, and a somewhat wrinkled appearance.

Their coloration is gray or brown, and they may have algae growing on their skin, giving them a greenish tint.

They inhabit warm, shallow waters, including rivers, estuaries, coastal areas, and bays.

Sea cows are herbivores, primarily feeding on aquatic plants, seagrasses, and other vegetation. They are known to consume a large quantity of food daily to meet their energy needs.

Manatees are generally slow-moving and peaceful animals. They are known to travel alone or in small groups and can often be seen near the water's surface, taking breaths of air.

Conservation efforts are in place to protect manatees in Costa Rica, as they face threats such as habitat loss, boat strikes, and accidental capture in fishing gear. Manatees are listed as a vulnerable species, and conservation initiatives aim to raise awareness, improve habitat protection, and reduce human-related threats to their population.

The Costa Rica Wildlife Organization (CRWF), is leading a program to allow the coexistence between manatee populations and the Barra del Colorado community.

The CRWF Sea Cow Conservation bioacoustic studies, together with the Barra del Colorado community allowed the identification of core feeding, passage, and threat sites for local manatee populations.  

“Scientific information accompanied by local knowledge, lets us understand when and which areas of the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge manatees use the most," said Sofia Pastor-Parajeles, Coexistence Planning and Operation Coordinator, who has been leading the Sea cow program since 2020. "Thanks to this we can implement efficient solutions with more precision and reach coexistence with the species.” 

After sharing the results with the community, the organization and the locals agreed to take action by placing preventive signs in the most used sites by the manatee population, these areas also coincide with the main boat transit routes. "Collisions with motorboats represent one of the main causes of mortality to the species throughout their distribution range," CRWF added.

Another awesome species in Costa Rica is the jaguar which is the country's biggest wild cat.  They are known for their beautiful coat, which is usually golden-yellow with black rosettes.

The Wild Costa Rica page is a space for readers to discover more about the fascinating species that make the Pura Vida land one of the world's countries with the richest natural diversity.

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What have you heard from Costa Rican organizations that work to safeguard manatee populations? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com