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.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

I received word last week that I have been awarded a grant from Save Our Seas Foundation for manatee tagging in Gabon! I am very excited, I've been working to raise money for this for the past 3 years!! The award will fund 2 GPS tags, belt and tether attachments, satellite time, some tracking gear, boat fuel for tracking, a stipend for a Gabonese technician to help with tracking and alittle of my salary. I now need to raise the rest of my salary so that I am able to do the 6 months of fieldwork required, but I have fingers crossed for several other pending applications. This will be the first time this technology has been used to study West African manatees, so it is really going to be cool! I plan to go back to Gabon to do this work in Fall 2009.