Manatees: The Gentle Giants

by Gregory Sweeney

How could a manatee with its whiskered face and distinctly rotund shape be mistaken for a seductive mermaid by ancient sailors? Manatees, the reclusive sea cows who love nothing more than to eat sea grass and sleep, are a marine mammal. They use their paddle-like tail to slowly cruise the coastal and inland waters of Florida. These sausage-shaped oddities have endeared themselves to us with their mysterious and gentle nature, shy curiosity, and whimsical face. The Gentle Giants steps back from all of the controversy surrounding this endangered animal to present a photographic portrait of manatees just being manatees. This collection of photographs contains intimate portraits of mothers and calves as well as manatees doing amusing acrobatics and posing for the camera. Using his rapport with his subjects, the photographer captures not only the serene beauty of the springs, but also the manatees' natural curiosity and unusual physical traits. Many of the natural behaviors displayed in the pictures are surprising. The beautiful photographs are an excellent introduction to the personalities of these leisurely vegetarians. Readers who have fallen in love with manatees can use the lists of places where someone can see manatees either in captivity or in wild viewing areas. This book offers a priviledged glimpse into the world of the manatee narrating to us through photographs the beauty and drama that are these unique gentle giants.

72 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family was lucky enough to swim with manatees today and we thought this book was a perfect souvenir. The book has amazing pictures and a lot of good information. We purchased the 2nd edition of this book.

[Beau Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this years ago after swimming with the manatees at Crystal Lake. It's a nice souvenir, and the pictures are very skillfully taken.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn't contain much text, but Sweeney's beautiful underwater photos of the breathtaking manatee don't require it. This book makes a great coffee table book, discussion starter, and memory of my time in Florida swimming with manatees.