Who are we?

2. Who are we? • Sirenian International is a grassroots network of volunteers who share a dedication to sirenian conservation • A Partnership of Participating & Supporting Members dedicated to the • Only 4 Extant Species • Amazonian manatee • West Indian manatee • West African manatee • dugong Photo (c) Gisela Rothauscher (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

3. History 1998 Concept visualized 1999 Networking; gathering at SMM 2000 Incorporation/BOD/SAC 2001 IRS 501(c)(3) status 2001 Awarded our First Grant (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

4. Sarita Kendall, Colombia, The Omacha Foundation Renata Santoro de Sousa Lima, Brazil, Laboratorio de Mamiferos Aquaticos – INPA Ester Quintana Rizzo, Guatemala, University of South Florida Nicole Auil, Belize, Coastal Zone Management Institute & Authority, Texas A&M Katherine S. LaCommare, USA, University of Mass, Boston Tamra Gilbertson, USA, Washington, DC Angela K. Sullivan, USA, Fredericksburg, VA Caryn Self Sullivan, USA, Texas A&M University Organizing Board of Directors (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

5. Scientific Advisory Council • Robert K. Bonde, Ct. E.S., USGS Sirenia Project, Gainesville, Florida • Gregory Bossart, Ph.D., VMD, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida • Daryl P. Domning, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, D.C. • Helene Marsh, Ph.D., School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia • Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Ph.D., Caribbean Stranding Network, Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico • Jane M. Packard, Ph. D., Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas • Cameron Shaw, , Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville, Florida • Jim Valade, , Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville, Florida • Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph. D., Provost's Distinguished Research Professor of Biology and Hubbs-Sea World Professor of Marine Mammalogy; Director, Physiological Ecology and Bioenergetics Lab, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

6. Charter Contributors We thank the following people for their generous donations during our organizational process: • Scott Carl, Alliance Computer Systems, Myrtle Beach, SC • John Patrick Sullivan, Artist, Fredericksburg, VA • Tim Hayes & Bill Gray, Hunton & Williams Law Firm, Richmond, VA • Peter Gadient & Maija Gadient-Heberlein, Cape Coral, FL • Sue Otto, Fairview Park, OH • Thomas W. Evans, Richmond, VA • Jane M. Packard, College Station, TX, in Honor of Martin Packard (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

7. Our Motivation All four extant species of the order Sirenia are threatened or endangered, yet . . . • Well funded research, education, and conservation projects exist mostly in a few industrialized nations • But, most sirenians inhabit less-developed nations where resources are limited (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

8. Motivation (con’t) • There is a strong and emerging conservation ethic in many of these countries • The public is an untapped source of funding for sirenian conservation • Most people, even those who are concerned with marine conservation, don’t know what a seacow is! (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

9. Our Goals are 3-fold • Research • Education • Conservation Photo (c) Katie LaCommare (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

10. Research Goals To foster, promote, and support scientific research related to manatees & dugongs Focus on populations in developing nations where resources are severely limited (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

11. Education Goals To facilitate exchange of information among scientists, students, regulatory agencies, NGOs, and concerned citizens To promote effective communication about science & conservation to diverse audiences (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

12. Conservation Goals To support conservation efforts by local people in developing nations To provide scientific data to local decision makers concerned with manatee & dugong conservation (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

13. Accomplishments to Date • Dynamic Website • Mermaid Ambassador Program • Educational Outreach Exhibit • Awarded our First Grant! • Created LISTSERV • Electronic Newsletter (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

14. http://www.sirenian.org Developed Internet website designed to: • Promote networking among scientists, educators, and conservationists (SIRENIAN; Bibliography; Links ) • Provide educational materials to diverse audiences (SirenianVoice; Intro; Links) • Raise funds for research, conservation, and educational projects (memberships; gift shop) (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

15. Ambassador Program Developed Mermaid Ambassador Program designed to raise funds and educate the public about the Order Sirenia Our Ambassadors are: • Elandra – dugong • Maya – Antillean manatee • Yara – Amazonian manatee • Bahari – West African manatee • Conch – Florida manatee (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

16. Educational Outreach Exhibit Developed a “traveling road show” – an educational outreach exhibit for primary and secondary school age children. It features a manatee skull, ribs, and flipper assembly and a fixed brain, which are on loan from the MMPL and UFL; an interactive question box, video from FL FWCC and Endangered Mermaids, and handouts printed by Sirenian International and the FL FWC. (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

17. Awarded our first Grant! Dugong research project coordinated by British Conservationist - Nick Cox, in Con Dao National Park, Southern Vietnam. This has enabled the initiation of much needed research on a previously un-surveyed endangered population of dugongs, and will hopefully lead to further interest in the study of dugongs elsewhere in Southern Vietnam and the surrounding region. (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

18. In the Pipeline • DATABASE • Multilingual Website (Kana Aketa) • An online education module that incorporates Standards of Learning • An endorsement program for Participating Members • WISH LIST: What does our membership see as our role in the International Conservation of Sirenians? (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.

19. We invite you to JOIN US! • Sirenian International is dedicated to inter-cultural collaboration. Please join us as a Participating or Supporting Member! • When: Today! • Where: http://www.sirenian.org/membership.html • $$ How much: No fee for Participating members – just information about your project. Supporting memberships from $10 (c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.