CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Citrus County Visitors and Convention Bureau announced rare manatee twins were spotted in Homosassa Springs.
Florida manatees are listed as endangered, and only 2 percent of all manatee births result in twins, officials said.
"In the past 10 years, maybe I've spotted a dozen set of twins, but never once have I seen them in the springs nor have I seen a mother and her calves quite so visible in Homosassa waters," said Ivan Vicente, Visitor Services Specialist, FWS. "That's because nursing mothers usually isolate themselves in low trafficked areas to keep the calves protected from mainly people, only this time they aren't as isolated."
Vincente said he thinks the mother will remain in the protective springs of Homosassa for the next few weeks until she feels comfortable to introduce her calves to the coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico.
The Florida manatee is the state's marine mammal and is a relative of the elephant. Manatees can live up to 80 years in the wild and, on average, one calf is born to one manatee every two to five years, making twins all the more rare.
"While the winter months draw the largest number of manatees to Crystal River, manatee spotting in the summertime is particularly special because that's when you can see--and actually swim--with the babies," said Adam Thomas, Director,
Citrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Citrus County is the only place in the United States where you can legally get in the water and swim with the manatees in the winter months and words truly cannot express how amazing it is to be graced by one of these gentle giants—especially when you see twins swimming alongside Mom."
Florida manatees are federally protected and remain on the endangered species list. According to FWS, there are less than 6,000 in and around the state of Florida.
WFTV
