All four species of sirenians are endangered or threatened. A fifth species, the Stellar's sea cow, was discovered in 1741 and hunted to extinction by 1768.

The Florida manatee is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the United States.

The Steller's sea cow was discovered in 1741. Less than 30 years later it was hunted to extinction.

All species of manatees are protected to some extent by national or local acts in every country they occupy.

Federal and state laws have been passed that protect Florida manatees.

a. Federal laws prohibit hunting, capturing, killing, or harrassing these animals. These laws include the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
b. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 is state legislation establishing Florida as a sanctuary for manatees.

West African manatees are protected under Class A of the African Convention of Nature and Natural Resources, signed by 38 African countries.

Amazonian manatee hunting has been prohibited since 1973.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international treaty developed in 1973 to regulate trade in all wildlife species. All species of sirenians are protected by this treaty.

Public awareness and education programs in Florida have been effective in increasing boater awareness, providing legislators with important manatee information, and educating the public about manatees.

Marine zoological parks, such as Sea World of Florida, help conserve manatees. Sea World of Florida is authorized to rescue and rehabilitate ill, injured, and orphaned manatees.

The first priority of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation program is to return healthy manatees to their natural habitat.

In the controlled environment of a marine zoological park, scientists can study aspects of manatee biology that are difficult or impossible to study in the wild.

Having manatees at marine zoological parks provides the opportunity for the public to learn about these animals.

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