Manatees

Deteriorating habitats and illegal fishing are threatening the West African manatee, a species shrouded in mystery fueled by legends.

Already extinct in the Central African Republic and probably in Burkina Faso, Angola, Niger, Mali and Chad, this sea cow, as it is also known, survives in very limited areas of coastal regions, from Senegal to Equatorial Guinea. [rising temperature of the water](https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-10-06/global-warming-extreme-droughts-20-times-more-likely-under-current-climate-conditions.html) in which they live are also adversely affecting them. This goddess, also present in the voodoo of the Caribbean and America via slaves from Benin and Nigeria, is also associated with sexual promiscuity. All this, despite the fact that this herbivore, which can measure more than 6ft 5in (two meters) and weigh about 1,100lb (500 kilos), is essential for controlling the growth of invasive herbaceous species in the region’s rivers and lagoons. “The observation tower has been broken for some time now and we are looking at repairing it ourselves,” Diatta says. “There is a freshwater spring nearby and the baliali [their name in the Diola language] like to come here to drink,” says Diatta. “Whoever this happens to is obliged to notify the authorities, otherwise they could be heavily fined.” Legend has it that a newlywed couple once went to a pond to bathe and, being alone and away from prying eyes, began to make love. To catch one you must have mystical powers,” says Louis Diatta, sitting on the banks of the Casamance River, scanning the surface of the water and talking about the West African manatees as if they were people. “These are the charms, protecting the road,” notes Kanyar, a local guide. “The following day, it was next to the charm,” Kanyar says with a smile. The road to this place is as magical as the manatees themselves.