Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by features such as hair or fur, mammary glands for nursing their young, and typically giving birth to live offspring. From the majestic lions of the African savannah to the playful dolphins of the ocean, mammals inhabit a variety  of habitats, demonstrating remarkable adaptations and behaviors.

West Indian Manatee

The West Indian Manatee or sea cow is Jamaica’s largest native animal.  Reaching over 3.9m (13ft.) in length and 1500kg (3000lbs) in weight, this herbivorous marine mammal is exceptionally quiet and shy, rarely seen by man.  Manatees are found from Florida to northern Brazil, but is rare everywhere.  In Jamaica they are most often found on the south coast.

The manatees that were/is in Alligator Hole River was confiscated from fishermen who had illegally caught them at sea. They were placed in the Alligator Hole River by the then Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) to give them a chance to live unmolested by man.