In Search of 'Mamiwata'

Mamiwata is an African name for a spirit believed to be embodied by the manatee. This blog chronicles my search for the elusive African manatee, and my exploration to understand its biology, habitat and preservation needs, economic and cultural significance. So little is known about this animal, yet it is intensely hunted almost everywhere it exists and may already be gone from much of its previous range. In 2006 I was inspired to go find and study them, starting in Gabon.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Gabon Magazine

My first popular article on West African manatees has just been published in Gabon Magazine. To see the interactive web version, click here and then "turn the pages" to the story on page 28. Or you can select "Jump to Page" from the menu in the upper left hand corner and select page 28.

Unfortunately they had to use photos of Florida manatees, because there really are no good pictures of wild West African manatees in clear water in all of Africa! Like Florida manatees, they mostly inhabit murky, dark water where it is hard to photograph them, and they are much shier than their American cousins. The editors made the text alot more "British" than my original writing (it's published in London), but it's still a decent article and gets the basic facts across so I'm happy with it.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Congrats on a great article! Your commitment to the conservation of the West African manatee is having a far-reaching impact. Like the many tributaries of a river, your work is forging many new partners and possibilities for the future. Go LUCY!!!; 9:46 AM