Adopt-A-Manatee®

Fossil remains of manatee ancestors show they have inhabited Florida for about 45 million years. Modern manatees have been in Florida for over one million years (probably with intermittent absences during the Ice Ages). The present Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies endemic (or “native”) to Florida. Genetic studies indicate that it is not derived from the populations in Mexico or Central America but more likely colonized Florida from the Greater Antilles thousands of years ago, after the last Ice Age. Having inhabited these waters far longer than modern civilizations, manatees in Florida today have every right to be considered Florida natives.

We have to keep in mind that the adoptive manatees are wild animals with individual behavior. Some manatees come late and leave early and, occasionally, certain manatees will skip a season and winter at another warm-water area.

Since we have a limited number manatees in the Adopt-A-Manatee program, you will be one of many people who are an adoptive “parent” of the manatee you choose. However, the money from the Adopt-A-Manatee program goes toward increasing public awareness and education; sponsoring research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts; advocating for strong protection measures, such as boat speed zones and sanctuaries; taking legal action when appropriate; and supporting rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education efforts in the Wider Caribbean, South America, and West Africa in order to protect all manatees and their aquatic habitat.

For more information on the manatee adoption program, visit the Adopt-A-Manatee® page.

We do not track the adoptees in our program. Tracking is typically reserved for manatees that have been recently released so researchers can monitor their adjustment to the wild.

Yes, all online transactions should automatically generate a receipt. However, please check your spam or junk folder as occasionally receipts may end up there. If you provided the wrong email address or there was a typo, please contact either membership@savethemanatee.org or donate@savethemanatee.org for assistance in reissuing a receipt.

We ship via USPS (United States Postal Service) for domestic orders.

On average, domestic shipping times range from 2 weeks to 3 weeks. However, please note that factors such as inclement weather, shipment distance, and technical difficulties can affect the delivery time.

Yes, we offer international shipping. However, please be aware that international shipping times can vary based on the destination country. As a general estimate, expect a minimum of three weeks for international deliveries.

Yes, international shipping increases our postage costs by approximately $15 USD. We greatly appreciate donations to help cover this additional charge.

We cannot ship to countries that USPS has suspended shipping to. Please refer to the list of suspended countries at USPS Service Alerts - International for more information.

Some countries, such as those in the European Union, may have customs or other import fees. Please be aware of the potential additional costs when ordering internationally.

In the case of returned international shipments marked as not claimed or having an invalid address, we require an additional charge for reshipment.