03/26 Amazonian Manatee

This week we learned about the Amazonian Manatee, also know as sea cows.  These Manatees are found in the Amazon River and are the only fresh water Manatee.  We looked at a picture with the different types of Manatees, which showed us that the Amazonian Manatee is the smallest kind at up to 9 feet long.  One interesting fact is that people used to believe that Manatees were very old because of the wrinkles on their skin.

We talked about that Manatees are hunted for their 400 pounds of meat and also their bones, fat, and skin.  The kids expressed some concern for the welfare of the babies left behind.  The video that we watched showed some of these babies at an Amazonian Manatee orphanage.  The babies were very playful and very cuddly.