The Manatee Is Now the National Symbol of Costa Rica

While there are not many manatees left in Costa Rica, a bill was recently passed that would make the manatee the country's national marine mammal. Manatees, which are also known as sea cows, are large mammals that make their homes in oceans and rivers. There are actually three different species of manatees, and one of those species is native to Costa Rica. That species is the West Indian manatee, which also goes by the name of the Florida manatee.

The move to make the manatee the national symbol of Costa Rica comes after three years of legislation. Two school children initially proposed the declaration three years ago after learning about the mammal in school. In addition to making the manatee the country's national symbol, the legislation calls for allocating funds for education about and the conservation of manatees.

After having made it through the first round of legislation, the bill then went to a second round of debate before being signed into law by President Luis Guillermo Solís. The only region in Costa Rica with a confirmed manatee population is Tortuguero, located in the northern Caribbean. Researchers believe that there may be less than 20 manatees living the area. The National System of Conservation Area has expressed intentions to begin an investigation in order to determine the population and status of the country's manatee population.