Discovering the endangered animal Anambra shelters in River Niger

The name is not foreign to Nigerians and Africans. The River Niger has attracted tourists from different parts of the world. To a good number of people, River Niger spells nostalgia–every evoking homesickness. The wide sheet of chocolate-like liquid makes some childhood memories linger on.

Having a part of it taking its course through Onitsha, a popular commercial hub in Anambra State, and Asaba, the capital of The Big Heart, River Niger is the principal river in West Africa,

The water body serves the agricultural sector, provides hydroelectricity, and functions as a transportation artery.

It is noteworthy to mention that the river flows through Anambra, and does not have its source in the state or even Nigeria. The source is traced to the Guinea Highlands; it runs through a number of countries before getting to Nigeria, from where it flushes into the Atlantic ocean.

Having such a body to itself, the river shelters aquatic animals of so many sizes and shapes, some of these animals are among the endangered species.

One of such is the West African manatee. It is safe to picture this specie as cows in water. This goes for their behavioral pattern. They tend to take their time while grazing and sometimes they can be picky with the meal. Their body movement is quite slow. A manatee cannot turn its head without turning its whole body.

While other mammals are built with body weapons for protection, manatees only protect themselves by swimming deep into the river and steering clear of potential predators. While their land relative have horns for defense, manatees have none. This trait influences their friendliness around humans.

The anatomy of their teeth does not allow them to bite; the molars only serve for grinding. They have just one set of teeth—molars.

Although manatees have close relations with Elephants, they are called Sea cows. Just like Elephants, manatees have very thick skins and even toenails numbered four.

They are generally herbivores, who snack on fish, clams, and crabs every now and then.

The mammals birth a calf every 2-5 years, while the gestation period lasts for 12 months for the African and Amazonian manatee.

The gentle giants are great travelers. They spend most of their time feeding, sleeping and traveling. 

While they swim, they come to the surface for a fresh breath. It has been discovered that these creatures can hold their breath for 20 minutes when resting in the water. Before inhaling through their nostrils, they first let out the air in a forceful manner and then inhale.

Their grapefruit-sized brains is not a limitation to their level of intelligence. In fact, manatees have been discovered to be very intelligent and have even been compared with dolphins–one of the smartest animals on the planet.

Manatees are endangered. They went on the list of endangered species in 1967. Human activities are a threat to the lives and existence of these docile giants. Poaching, boat strikes, and fishing activities are the ways humans threaten the specie. They are hunted for their hides, bones, and flesh.

In some countries, it is illegal to feed, touch, kill or harass a manatee. These creatures help to maintain the ecosystem.