2012 COURSE DATES: AUGUST 4 – 17, 2012 - Sirenian International

ut not random. Behaviors were not observed in the first 3 months of captivity nor
were interactions with human handlers documented. Additional studies of captive
and wild manatees are needed to understand association patterns and the role that
relatedness and natal range might play in the level and types of interactions.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Walt Disney World The Living Seas at Epcot Center, Homosassa
Springs Wildlife State Park, Lowry Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, Mote Marine
Laboratory, Parker Aquarium in Bradenton and Sea World of Florida for granting
permission to do this research. We also thank the following organizations for helping
support this research: Georgia Southern University’s Academic Excellence Award,
the Graduate Student Professional Development Fund at Georgia Southern
University, and the Jane Smith Turner Foundation and the Eppley Foundation
(awards to B.A.S.). This research was conducted with IACUC approval by Georgia
Southern University and approval from each facility participating in the study.
R. Bonde, J. Koelsch and Drs. R. Chandler, D. Gleason, and L. Leege provided
valuable comments on the manuscript. R. Bonde has approved of the personal
communication reference in the discussion. The research was conducted with the
cooperation of the USGS Sirenia Project (MA791721-2) and we thank their
personnel for cooperation in this study.
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