Using acoustics to study the manatee

Nina Giotto

HELP Congo

The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is still a little-studied species, which makes research essential to better protect it. Classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, it lives in shallow coastal waters and freshwater rivers, preferring wide estuaries as well as vegetated marshes.

African manatees are thought to be partially nocturnal and can live alone or in small family groups of four to six individuals. The strongest bonds are formed between the mother and her young, who can remain dependent for up to two years.

They feed mainly on aquatic vegetation, but also on vegetation overhanging the banks. They have few natural predators, but their survival remains fragile in the face of human pressures.

Discovering the African manatee

Beauval Nature

Dear difteur-ses,

Thanks to your support, the thesis of Lucas Dubus, Beauval Nature PhD student, continues. His objective? To characterize the home range and population size of the endangered African manatee in Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo.

What are the actions taken?

▪️ Passive acoustic monitoring of manatees from May to November 2024 and analysis of audios. More than 3,000 manatee vocalizations were detected.
▪️ Collection of water for and saliva from plants consumed, for DNA analysis.
▪️ Testing of various tracking methods (drone, sonar, camera) and harvesting of environmental variables that might explain the species' presence.
▪️ Obtaining new images of the species in situ.
▪️ Preparation of statistical scripts to model manatee occupancy in Conkouati-Douli National Park. The first maps have been generated. Preliminary results highlight that temperature explains the species' presence (preference for warm waters).

Using acoustics to study the manatee

The project

The organization HELP Congo

Use of the money