Amber Marek                                                                                                                  June 18, 2004
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone:  321/867-2468)

KSC Release No. P01-04

Manatees Enjoy Kennedy Space Center's Warm Waters

LIFE IS GREAT! At the mouth of Banana Creek at Kennedy Space Center, a baby manatee seems to be smiling as it floats on its back nestled between two adults. Manatees live in Florida's warm-water rivers and inland springs. The Florida manatee feeds on more than 60 varieties of grasses and plants. Manatee cows give birth about once every three years. Gestation lasts about 12 months. KSC shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses 92,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 331 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles.

For more information about the wildlife at KSC please call 321/867-2468.

KSC Photo Number: KSC-04PD-1301

A complete gallery of NASA Kennedy Space Center photos are available at:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/index.cfm

text-only version of this release

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