Ama-Manatees: Uphawu Nesikhumbuzi

I-Ocean Foundation igubha Inyanga Yezilwane Ezincelisayo Zasolwandle ngoFebhuwari. EFlorida, uNovemba yiNyanga yokuqwashisa ngeManatee ngesizathu esihle. Yisikhathi sonyaka lapho ama-manatee eqala ukubhukuda ukuya emanzini afudumele futhi asengozini enkulu yokushaywa abagibeli bezikebhe ngoba naphezu kobukhulu bawo obukhulu, akulula ukuwabona ngaphandle kokuthi uwabhekisise kahle.

Njengoba iFlorida Wildlife Commission ithi, “Ohambweni lwazo lwaminyaka yonke, ama-manatee, kuhlanganise omama namathole abo, abhukuda eduze kwemifula eminingi, amatheku nezindawo ezisogwini eFlorida efuna amazinga okushisa afudumele, azinzile atholakala emithonjeni yamanzi ahlanzekile, emiseleni eyenziwe abantu nasezindaweni eziphuma ugesi. Ngokungafani namahlengethwa nezinye izilwane ezincelisayo zasolwandle, ama-manatee awanawo ama-blubber eqiniso okuwavikela emanzini angaphansi kuka-68 degrees Fahrenheit, ngakho kumelwe athole amanzi afudumele phakathi nokufuduka kwawo ukuze asinde emakhazeni asebusika.”

Iningi lethu ngeke lithinteke emikhawulweni yezikebhe yesizini yaseFlorida eqala ukusebenza ngoNovemba 15, imikhawulo eklanyelwe ukuvikela ama-manatee. Noma kunjalo, ama-manatee awuphawu lwakho konke esibhekana nakho ekuthuthukiseni ubuhlobo bomuntu nolwandle, futhi yini eyenza ama-manatee anempilo enza izilwandle ezinempilo.  

Ama-manatee ayizilwane ezidla uhlaza, okusho ukuthi athembele ezimfeni ezinempilo zasolwandle kanye nezinye izimila zasemanzini ukuze zidle. Izimfunda zotshani zasolwandle ezichumayo zidinga i-sedimentation encane, amanzi ahlanzekile ahlanzekile, kanye nokuphazamiseka okuncane okuvela emisebenzini yabantu. Izibazi zophephela ezivela phansi ngengozi zidinga ukulungiswa ngokushesha ukuze kugwenywe ukuguguleka komhlabathi kanye nokulimala okwengeziwe kulezi zindawo ezihlala izilwane zasolwandle, izinhlanzi ezincane, kanye nenqwaba yezinye izinhlobo zezilwane okungenani ingxenye yempilo yazo.  

Lapha e-The Ocean Foundation sisebenze nososayensi nabanye ukuze siqonde futhi sivikele izilwane ezifuywayo kanye nezindawo ezithembele kuzo eFlorida, eCuba nakwezinye izindawo. Ngohlelo lwethu lwe-SeaGrass Grow, sinikeza ithuba lokusiza ukulungisa izimfunda zasolwandle futhi sisuse i-carbon footprint yazo ngesikhathi esifanayo. Ngohlelo lwethu lwe-Marine Mammal Initiative, sivumela umphakathi wethu ukuthi uhlangane ukuze weseke izinhlelo zezilwane ezincelisayo zasolwandle ezisebenza ngempumelelo kakhulu esingazithola.