The fate of the African manatee hangs in the balance. Nations where this endangered marine mammal is found, in West Africa, are calling on governments around the world to act fast.
A proposal that would give greater protection to these animals will be voted on at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting.
Living in coastal and river areas along Africa’s Atlantic coast, from Mauritania to Angola, their habitat is being divided and degraded. The trade in live manatees for meat, organs and oil, including for use in traditional African medicines, is a threat that must be urgently addressed.
With so few animals left, and reports of extinction in some areas, action is needed to protect African manatees.