Amazonian manatee  (Trichechus inunguis)

Once known to occur in large herds and have healthy populations (2), the Amazonian manatee has suffered from extensive hunting by subsistence and commercial hunters. It has been sought for meat, oil and fat, and at one time for its hide, which was in demand for use as water hoses and machine belts (7). Threats now include hunting and accidental drowning in commercial fishing nets. The deforestation of large areas of the forests surrounding this manatee's river habitats has also caused soil erosion, degradation of food supplies and the reduction of vegetation in the waterways (7).

International trade of this species is prohibited due to its listing on Appendix I of CITES (4). This species has suffered huge losses but is locally abundant in the more remote regions of the Amazonian River Basin. However, it is very difficult to control hunting in these economically depressed areas and they are still killed for meat (3). While numerous federal, state, and local conservation measures are in place to protect the Florida manatee (T. manatus latirostris), South America has limited resources for funding comprehensive conservation projects. Several effective programs in Brazil include surveys by Projeto Peixe-Boi/Center for Aquatic Mammals (14), sustainable use research by Mamirauá Project (15), and education/outreach efforts by The Friends of the Manatee Association (16). The Harbour Branch Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation conducts manatee conservation outreach programs in Brazil and plays an important role in rehabilitating injured, sick or orphaned individuals (12). It is hoped that these measures combined with stronger hunting laws will allow the ancient and wonderful Amazonian manatee to recover (12) (13).