Manatees and dugongs are large, slow-moving marine herbivores that face significant threats from boat strikes, entanglement, and habitat loss. Zoo and aquarium populations contribute to rehabilitation and conservation breeding for these vulnerable species.
Manatee welfare in captive settings revolves primarily around temperature management, dietary provision, and the quality of aquatic environments. Their absolute requirement for warm water means facilities in temperate climates must maintain heated pools year-round. The volume of aquatic vegetation required is substantial, and inadequate provision causes nutritional deficiency. Social considerations: manatees are largely solitary except for mother-calf pairs and mating groups, making forced social proximity in small pools a welfare concern. For rehabilitated animals, the transition from rescue through treatment to release requires careful welfare monitoring at each stage. The welfare case for manatee rehabilitation is strong — the primary threats they face are entirely human-caused, and rehabilitation returns individuals to natural populations that are recovering.