Gentle Giants

The West Indian or Florida Manatee (and sometimes called sea cow), is found primarily along the coast of Florida. Most adult manatees are about 10 feet long and weigh 800 to 1,200 pounds, although some larger than 12 feet and weighing as much as 3,500 pounds have been recorded. But the largest problems facing the manatee are caused by man. Speeding boats run over many a manatee that are submerged just below the surface, killing them either by impact with the boast itself or by slicing into their backs with the propellers. Manatees that survive such encounters carry distinctive scars ( in fact, biologists studying the manatee use the scars as ways to identifying individual manatees). Original Size: 48 x 60 inches Medium: oil on canvas