Do manatees nurse their babies?

Are you aware that manatees are mammals? Just like humans?

Well, like other mammals, they feed their young ones on milk from their mammary glands.

Manatee babies—called calves—are nursed by their mothers soon after birth. In fact, in the manatee population, the female manatee, called cow, has the full responsibility of raising and caring for the calf.

Remarkable mothers

Female manatees are really good mothers. They take excellent care of themselves during their long gestation period, ensuring they deliver young, alive babies. Actually, they are quite keen on their mating periods—avoiding mating when food is scarce or when stressed by cold or other factors. This ensures that most manatee calves are born in the spring and in the summer when the chances of survival of the babies are very high.

Soon after giving birth, the mother guides the calf to the water surface. This enables the baby to take its first breath and to begin to vocalize as a form of communication. Vocalization helps the mother and baby to bond and stay together for the next two years, with the cow protecting and nursing the calf.

A baby manatee starts to feed on milk immediately after birth. The calf suckles from the mother’s teats found under the pectoral flippers (armpits). While the milk is mostly water and contains roughly 20-percent solids, 7-percent protein, and 13-percent lipids, it provides sufficient nourishment for the calf’s growth and development.

For the next few weeks, the calf feeds on milk but observes the mother’s behavior and begins to learn how to survive in the wild. And so as it nurses underwater, it observes the mother spending most of her time grazing on the vegetation found in the beds of their habitat. The calf internalizes the vegetarian lifestyle of the mother and then starts to nibble on plants. By the end of the first year, the calf can fully rely on vegetation and is weaned off milk.

Unwavering protection

Even after weaning the calf off milk, the cow retains a steadfast and protective association with the calf. So during the next one year, the calf sticks around the mother for protection and training on feeding, travel routes, resting areas, and warm water refuges.

Equally, manatee babies have no fixed sleeping hours. They are known to rest for short periods before they can go on with feeding. Hence, they need their mothers around them for protection as they sleep.

The mother and calf relationship is vital for the survival of the curious calves during their first few years of life. In fact, it is during the first two years that most calves die, particularly when separated or abandoned by their mothers.

The high level of curiosity of the calves means that when left on their own they are more likely to move into dangerous human or boat traffic. For instance, lonely calves may easily feed on harmful plastic or fishing line out of curiosity. Also, they may get caught in fishing nets or be hit by boats.

So manatee calves really need their mothers to survive. The death or injury of a mother immediately exposes the calf to grave danger.

The good news is that their mothers do really take good care of their babies. And it is only under very extraordinary circumstances like injury or illness that mothers separate or abandon their calves. That is why when you see a manatee calf alone then perhaps it is an orphan or has been abandoned.

Extraordinary manatee tours

Would you like to go on a manatee tour in order to see, swim with or learn more about these adorable creatures? At Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees we offer eco-friendly, educative, safe and memorable manatee tours in Crystal River, Florida.

We give you the opportunity to snorkel, swim or simply view the manatees during one of our private boat rides in their habitat. You’ll also be happy to be in the water with experienced captains and knowledgeable crew. For more information on manatees and manatee tours in Crystal River, Florida, visit the site “Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees.”

How do manatees reproduce?

Manatees give birth to young ones called calves. But like most large mammals, they have a very low reproduction rate. The females called cows do not become sexually mature until they are 5 years old. On the other hand,  the males called bulls are not sexually mature until they are 9 years old. On average, a female manatee will give birth to one calf every 2-5 years, with a two-year interval occurring in cases where a cow loses her calf soon after birth. Twins are quite rare and the gestation period is about 12 months. The reproduction rate also may be reduced by environmental factors such as temperature changes, food scarcity and stress.

What triggers mating?

While research is still ongoing on manatee reproduction, it is known that hormonal changes in the females are what trigger the mating process. As hormone levels increase, the females change their behavior and attract the attention of the males. A flurry of social communication occurs including verbal communication and touching, which drives several bulls to accompany one cow. During the mating season, the bulls engage in competitive behavior to vie for the opportunity to mate with a cow. This process is strategically aimed at enhancing the likelihood of a successful conception before the mating season concludes.

Mating Process

Breeding herds develop during the mating season, consisting of one cow in estrus and several bulls. The cow moves several times and takes different postures as she is pursued by the bulls for weeks. In response to the numerous suitors, the cow typically reacts by twisting and turning in a vigorous manner, aiming to break free. However, the bulls tenaciously persist, closely tailing her. Their determination is driven by their fierce competition to secure the opportunity to mate with her. In terms of interactions among the males, aggression is not a typical behavior. During a mating season, an estrus cow engages in mating with various bulls. Notably, she does so without forming a lasting bond with any specific bull.

Conception to Birth

After conceiving, a cow takes roughly 12 months to give birth. In Crystal River, Florida, most manatees give birth during the summer and spring. Only one calf is born at a time, but there are rare cases in which a cow can give birth to twins. At birth, a calf weighs between 60-70 pounds, is 4 to 4 1/2 inches long, and is nourished exclusively on the milk produced by the mother. Once they give birth, the females take utmost care of their calves and do not interact with other adult manatees during this period. The mothers nurse their young ones until they are 1-2 years old and are able to swim and survive on their own.

For more information on manatee reproduction, behavior, and survival, visit the site, Swimming with the Manatees.

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