There of course is a lot to tell about this rare, surprising and for me probably the most thrilling event I’ve ever witnessed underwater!  But let me start out with quotes from two of the most experienced manatee researchers around, Bob Bonde and Cathy Beck from the USGS Sirenia Project - who are pouring over my series of 130 photographs w/timeline of the infant and associated manatee behaviors and individual identifications right now:

From Bob Bonde:

Hi Carol,

These images are fantastic.  Cathy and the photoidentification team will look them over and try and make individual ID's.  I am certain it is a newborn male calf probably during the night.  Photos of newborns underwater in the wild exist but are rare.  Most are of calves that died and were examined at necropsy.  Your pictures therefore are quite remarkable.  The mom is the pregnant looking animal and we should be able to identify her along with a couple of the other associated manatees.  I think the behavior you observed does not constitute midwife activities, but more a form of curiosity.  Unfortunately, this type of possible interference may be deliberate and could lead to calf/cow separation.  This has been demonstrated in other mammal populations, but is rare in manatees as late pregnant females will generally seek out quite areas where the chances of disturbance are minimized.  We have observed what you watched with a couple of our pregnant radio tagged manatees after giving successful birth on the Atlantic coast.  The good news is that the moms were determined enough (or lucky?) to retain the bond.   Only time will tell here.

I am in meetings at the university most of the day today.  Thanks for sharing your pictures and detailed observations.

Bob

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Robert K. Bonde

Biologist - Sirenia Project

U.S. Geological Survey

Florida Integrated Science Center

2201 NW 40th Terrace

Gainesville,  Florida  32605-3574

Phone:  (352)264-3555  FAX:  (352)374-8080

Email:   rbonde@usgs.gov

http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Manatees/manatees.html

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From Cathy Beck:

Hi Carol,

We haven't met, but I was in the boat at 3 Sisters last Thursday afternoon with Bob and the others.  Thanks so much for sending us the link to view your beautiful images of this newborn calf and the adults with her.  Sorry it's taken us a few days to match the mom of this newborn.  We have photo-documented her only twice, both times in the Homosassa, in March 2005 and Jan 2006.  In 2005 she was considered a subadult, so I suspect this might be her first calf.  The manatee close-by, with the left tail mutilation is also a female (image #42).  There are a few other known manatees in the group - one in particular is CR485 (white scar, mid-tail, seen on image #57),  another young female, first seen while still a dependent calf in early 2001.  We're still working on more details, but just wanted to get back to you with what we had so far.  Also, one of our biologists, Susan Butler, was at 3 Sisters this morning and reported that the mom and calf were both in the sanctuary!

Thanks again,  Cathy

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Cathy A. Beck, Wildlife Biologist

U.S. Geological Survey

Florida Integrated Science Center

Sirenia Project

2201 NW 40th Terrace

Gainesville, FL  32605-3574  USA

cbeck@usgs.gov

http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Manatees/manatees.html

Voice: 352-264-3550 (direct)

352-378-8181 or 372-2571 (operator)

Fax: 352-374-8080

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And I’ve chosen to “debut” these two images posted here on WetPixel - the well-respected underwater photography forum that I owe so much to!  Check their front page for news of this rare event:

www.wetpixel.com

direct link to wetpixel article is here:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/carol-grant-takes-rare-photos-of-newborn-manatee/

To close here is the first image I took early on that cold morning, one week ago, yes my heart was racing because I knew how special the event was I was witnessing.  Manatee births have not been photographed or videoed in the wild and this is probably best for the manatee.  Also documenting healthy “hours-old” baby manatee is almost un-heard-of and I’m proud I was given this generous “peek” into manatee life:

“Angel” the newborn manatee riding on his mom’s back - with another female

and curious manatee following behind.