Sirenian International, Inc.

Dugong Survey in Con Dao National Park, Vietnam

Principal Investigator: Nick Cox. The aim of this project is to undertake boat-based surveys of a small but endangered population of Dugongs Dugong dugon in Con Dao National Park, and produce materials for raising awareness in the local community. Cox Final Report.pdf

2002

Awareness, education and protection of Manatees (Trichechus senegalensis) in Gabon, West Africa

Principal Investigator: Christian Mbina. Available information from literature and the results of surveys and studies conducted between 1986 and 1995 on the distribution and biology of trichechus senegalensis show that, the West African manatee occurs in the middle and lower reaches of rivers from Senegal to the Quanza in Angola (Powell, 1996; Dodman ,1999). The same study reported that manatees are common in Gabon and the country may contain one of the highest densities of the species in Africa. During four terms, two volunteer leaders will be assigned to intervene in villages and schools situated in and around the basin of the Ogooué, in ordre to educate local populations and the youth in conservation and respect of the last populations of manatees of this region. In spite of the largeness of the region, leaders will be able to set up various activities to reach their objectives. Mbina Preliminary Report.pdf

Genetic population structure of the Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus) and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) in Colombia

Principal Investigators: Susana Caballero & Juan Pablo Giraldo. In this study, we suggest the analysis of the control region of the mitochondrial genome to describe the population structure of both species in Colombia. This research will generate deeper conclusions about the status of these species in the country and it will help to develop management measures to protect these populations. The mitochondrial DNA control region has been widely used in similar studies to determine population genetics parameters in various species (Caballero et al, 2000). This region presents a high mutation rate, founding polymorphisms in different groups of the same species evidencing geographical differences between populations. It is also a sensitive technique to use when the number of different control region types or haplotypes are supposed to be low, has the case might be with these species (Mortiz, 1987).

The Effect of an Oil Spill on Manatees in Ciénaga de Paredes, Colombia

Principal Investigators: Susana Caballero & Nataly Castelblanco. Fundación Omacha in association with the Ministry of the Environment have been articulating a process that wants to connect the ideas of the Regional Corporation (local environmental authorities) on this respect. Part of these initiatives is the monitoring of the manatee population at “Ciénaga de Paredes” (Paredes marsh), a water system of approximately 700m² located on the right margin of the Magdalena River. In this region, the local community has been developing efforts in order to manage the manatee population for 14 years, with very low technical assistance. The main problem for the animals in this marsh is that the water level is very low during the summer months, and sometimes the animals stranded in the mud and they needed help to be transported to deeper places. This situation became more serious in October 2002, with an oil spill of more than 500 barrels in La Gómez waterfall, 30 km from the mouth of the marsh, covering the majority of it surface. The cause of the spill was an accidental explosion of the pipeline by vandals to steal oil. Approximately 95% of the vegetation of the marsh margins was contaminated and the fishing resources wiped out. Caballero Final Report.pdf

Proposal for participation in the Marine and Coastal Programme of WWF Indochina in Vietnam and Combodia

Principal Investigators: Kanjana Adulyanukosal & Ellen Hines. The goal of this visit, with Dr. Ellen Hines, is to assist the Marine and Coastal Programme of WWF Indochina design and set-up a dugong and seagrass habitat research and monitoring project in a few key sites. In the past 2 years, Hines and I have created and implemented a repeatable and practical field protocol to provide baseline information and monitor populations of dugongs along the Andaman coast of Thailand (Hines and Adulyanukosol, 2001). To achieve the full potential of the ideals of marine conservation biology, scientists and conservationists need to work together for truly effective conservation and management planning. Our knowledge and experience in Thailand will be very useful for the study of dugong and seagrass in Vietnam and Cambodia. Andulyanukosol Final Report.pdf

Genetic Investigation of Antillean Manatees in Venezuela

Principal Investigator: Maria Gabriela Montiel-Villalobos & Hector Barrios-Garrido. General objective: To determine the existent haplotipos in the population of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in the System of the Lake of Maracaibo, using the molecular technique Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA: RAPD. Specific objectives: To identify the possible present unique haplotipos in the samples of the Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) coming from the System of the Lake of Maracaibo. To quantify the number of exclusive haplotipos found in the analyzed samples of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) coming from the System of the Lake of Maracaibo. To provide useful data to the local and international organisms of environmental surveillance for the creation of effective plans of conservation and protection of this species.

Publication and Distribution of Dugong Children's Book in Cambodia

Principal Investigator: Nick Cox. Summary: The aim of this project is to translate into Khmer and print the Dugong storybook originally produced for Con Dao National Park, Vietnam, and distribute to coastal communities in Cambodia.

2003

Seagrass & Dugong Mapping Program in Palau

Principal Investigators: Patricia Davis & Jason Kuartei. The dugong study started in July 2002 with the aim of collecting baseline data on dugong habitat utilization throughout Palauan waters. Currently there is no information about seagrass or dugong in Palau aside from aerial survey data collected from four studies over the past 20 years, which provides only snap-shot information about their distribution. C3 will be participating in another aerial survey in September this year, the results of which will be combined with past data in order to compile a report on our current status of knowledge of the dugong population in Palau. Davis-Kuartei Executive Summary Report.pdf

The Actual Status of the manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the Tablazo Bay, Zulia State, Venezuela

Principal Investigator: Adda G. Manzanilla Fuentes. During years populations of Trichechus manatus have been reporting, in the Maracaibo lake, those which in spite of the changes in the habitat conditions and the man's influence, they still stay in this ecosystem. However don't exist studies on the status of these animals in the area during the last ten years. This survey will found within an to trapezoidal area of 640 km2, connecting the gulf of Venezuela with to narrows at the entrance of the Maracaibo lake known such the Tablazo bay. To determines the population's state they were carried out direct counts of the sighted animals and they were categorized in frequent, few, and scarce. Sampling routes will be travelled an east-west direction in near areas to swamps and banks where plentiful the aquatic vegetation and of bank. They will settle down coordinated with the Global position satelital G.P.S. and cartographic information. The quality of the habitat to manatee will be analysed. And was identified the sources of food of the species. Also a work of community education for the conservation of the manatee and their habitat.

Interview Surveys in the Gulf of Mannar (Sri Lanka & India)to Assess the Status of the Dugong (Dugong dugon) in the Region

Principal Investigators: Ellen Hines, Anouk Ilangakoon & Dipani Sutaria. In this proposed project we will carry out reconnaissance surveys to identify the present range of occurrence and distribution of the dugong off both the north-western coastline of Sri Lanka and the south-eastern coastline of India bordering the Gulf of Mannar through an initial pilot survey. Subsequently we jointly propose to assess the status of the sea grass habitat, the size of Dugong population, conservation status, and major threats to the population within the Gulf of Mannar.

2004

Feeding Ecology of West Indian Manatees in the Orinoco Basin, Colombia, South America

Principal Investigators: Delma Nataly Castelblanco Martínez, Isabel Gómez Camelo, Ana Lucía Bermúdez.. The principal goal of this proposal was to provide information about the feeding ecology of manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) at the Orinoco Basin (Colombia), in a manner that would be useful for decision-makers to minimize the potential human impacts to manatees. 2005 Castelblanco Final Report.pdf

2005

Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize, Central America

Principal Investigators: Friends of Swallow Caye. Small grant to provide interim support for enforcement rangers at Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary.

Rehabilitation of Orphaned Neonate, Belize, Central America

Principal Investigators: Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Small grant to provide interim support for food and supplies

Rehabilitation of Orphaned Neonate, Puerto Rico

Principal Investigators: Caribbean Stranding Network. Small grant to provide interim support for food and supplies

2006

Symposium for the Biology and Conservation of the Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Mesoamerica

Principal Investigators: Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, Leon David Olivera-Gomez, Ester Quintana-Rizzo. Small grant to support networking among West Indian manatee scientists in Mesoamerica. 2006 Gonzales Final Report.pdf

• Nicole Adimey, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Florida
• Kanjana Adulyanukosol, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand
• Dalila Caicedo Herrera, Omacha Foundation, Colombia
• Ellen Hines, Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, Florida
• Lucy Keith, Wildlife Trust, Florida
• Alejandro Ortega-Argueta, University of Queensland, Australia
• Cynthia Taylor, Wildlife Trust, Florida
• Angie Sullivan, Parkview Solutions, Virginia
• Caryn Self Sullivan, Texas A&M University

• Miriam Marmontel, Ph.D. Sociedade Civil Mamirauá, Brazil
• Fernando Rosas, Ph.D. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Brazil
• Robert K. Bonde, Ct. E.S., USGS Sirenia Project, Gainesville, Florida
• Gregory Bossart, Ph.D., VMD, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida
• Daryl P. Domning, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Helene Marsh, Ph.D., School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
• Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Ph.D., Puerto Rico Manatee Center, Caribbean Stranding Network, Puerto Rico
• Jane M. Packard, Ph. D., Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
• Cameron Shaw, Law Enforcement Coordinator, Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville, Florida
• Jim Valade, Wildlife Biologist, Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville, Florida
• Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph. D., Provost's Distinguished Research Professor of Biology and Hubbs-Sea World Professor of Marine Mammalogy; Director, Physiological Ecology and Bioenergetics Lab, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida
• Leszek Karczmarski, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Marine Mammal Research Program, Galveston, Texas.

BIG SLOPPY MERMAID KISSES and our most sincere thanks and appreciation go to the following Patrons and Contributors who have made donations of funds and/or services exceeding $100 in any one year: Holly Twining, Thinkhost.com, Howard & Michele Hall, Dr. and Mrs. William E. Evans, Jack Burtt, Sue Otto, Thomas W. Evans, Dr. Jane M. Packard, The Martin Packard Family, Kieran Carew, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Self, Heather Van Wagner, Hayley VanderStel, Brian Casey, Susan and Rodney Wagner, Mike Winkler, Patricia Witt, Karen Downen, Clifton Jones, Mary Turlington, Cheryl Lechtanski, David Pouliot, Dolphin Wild Eco-Adventures, Doug Perrine, Scott Carle, John Patrick Sullivan, Tim Hayes, and Maija Gadient-Heberlein.