History and conservation status of the Antillean manateeTrichechus manatus manatusin Hispaniola

Abstract

To summarize the state of knowledge of the Endangered Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus in Hispaniola, which comprises the Dominican Republic and Haiti, I reviewed documentary archives from pre-Columbian times to 2013. Manatees were historically abundant in Hispaniola but were hunted for centuries for their meat and other body parts for diverse uses. By the end of the 19th century manatees had become relatively rare around the island. Nevertheless, manatees remain widespread along the coast and occasionally occupy freshwater habitats in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti recent manatee sightings were restricted to two coastal areas. Currently, the manatee population of Hispaniola is perceived to be declining. The most commonly reported threats to the species include hunting, entanglement in fishing gear, boat strikes and disturbance by boat traffic, pollution, and habitat degradation and destruction. In the Dominican Republic longstanding national laws and international agreements protect the species and its habitat, and past conservation actions have raised public awareness about the status of the manatee. In Haiti knowledge of manatees is extremely limited and the species is not legally protected. I propose country-specific and binational recommendations to improve the contemporary conservation of manatees in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Accomplishments and challenges of the research on Antillean manatee: A bibliometric analysis

“…Although several studies on the subspecies have a regional approach (e.g. Castelblanco-Martínez et al, 2012, 2021, it is noticeable that the relatively higher scientific literature production is led by researchers from Mexico and Brazil. A system of governmental funding of domestic research, public universities, and research centers in those countries, although imperfect, may have resulted in a positive impact on manatee research, especially in the form of undergraduate and graduate theses.…”

“…Historical hunting of Antillean manatees is reported in almost all of the areas where the subspecies is distributed (e.g., McKillop, 1985;Jiménez-Pérez, 2002;de Thoisy et al, 2003;Morales-Vela et al, 2003;Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2018;Domínguez-Tejo, 2021), and in some developing countries manatees continue to be killed for food (e.g., de Thoisy et al, 2003;Castelblanco-Martínez et al, 2018). The collisions with outboard vessels are relatively common in Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Belize (Mignucci-Giannoni et al, 2000;Galves et al, 2022;Borges et al, 2007), and bycatch of Antillean manatee occurs in most countries, but at a relatively low level (Kiszka, 2014).…”

Manatees across borders: Introduction to the special issue on the biology and conservation of manatees

“…At those hunting levels, it is not surprising that the West Indian manatee was one of the species included in Allen's book (1942) 'Extinct and vanishing mammals of the western hemisphere'. Actually, the species is still hunted for subsistence and local commerce in several countries (Morales-Vela et al, 2003;Luna et al, 2008;Domínguez Tejo, 2021;Izidoro et al, 2022;Jiménez, 2022;Debro et al, 2023).…”

Analysis of a long-term dataset of Antillean manatee strandings in Belize: implications for conservation

“…The Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus , a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is categorized as Endangered across its range (Self-Sullivan & Mignucci-Giannoni, 2008), and excessive and uncontrolled mortality may be the main factor affecting the species’ status (Marsh et al, 2004). In most countries where this sirenian subspecies occurs, stranding events and mortality have been attributed mainly to anthropogenic pressures such as poaching and significant habitat changes (Castelblanco-Martínez et al, 2012; Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2018; Domínguez-Tejo, 2019). The regional causes of strandings are diverse, however, with differences in the incidence of threats among local populations (Mignucci-Giannoni et al, 2000; Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2018; Domínguez-Tejo, 2019; Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2021).…”

“…In most countries where this sirenian subspecies occurs, stranding events and mortality have been attributed mainly to anthropogenic pressures such as poaching and significant habitat changes (Castelblanco-Martínez et al, 2012; Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2018; Domínguez-Tejo, 2019). The regional causes of strandings are diverse, however, with differences in the incidence of threats among local populations (Mignucci-Giannoni et al, 2000; Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2018; Domínguez-Tejo, 2019; Alvarez-Alemán et al, 2021). Information on this matter is not available for many populations of manatees within the subspecies’ range, but is required for monitoring of conservation actions to reduce mortality.…”