The Status of Manatees in the Guianas

Manatees appear on the list of animals deemed by the Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to be in danger of extermination. Fortunately they are not yet very high on the danger list, but are nevertheless in need of proper conservation. A study of these animals in British Guiana and neighbouring countries was therefore undertaken early in 1962 to investigate the problems involved in their use and protection. British Guiana was chosen for this study since it was believed still to have as large a stock of manatees as any country, and because helpful people there made possible the best use of the three months available. This paper is concerned primarily with the status of manatees, both as regards their present abundance and their possible economic uses. Other aspects of the work will be published elsewhere.