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Belize—a last stronghold for manatees in the Caribbean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2009

Thomas J. O'Shea  and
Charles A. ‘Lex’ Salisbury
Thomas J. O'Shea
Affiliation:
Sirenia Project, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Ecology Research Center, 412 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA.
Charles A. ‘Lex’ Salisbury
Affiliation:
Lowry Park Zoological Garden, 7530 North Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33604, USA.
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Abstract

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Belize is a small country but it offers a safe haven for the largest number of manatees in the Caribbean. The authors' survey in 1989 revealed that there has been no apparent decline since the last study in 1977. However, there is no evidence for population growth either and as the Belize economy develops threats from fisheries, human pressure and declining habitat quality will increase. Recommendations are made to ensure that Belize safeguards its manatee populations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , July 1991 , pp. 156 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1991

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