This summer, as in the summer of 1994, a strange and exotic creature graced the Bay waters. Not normally found farther north than North Carolina, a West Indian manatee swam from Florida to Chesapeake and Delaware bays, then along the New Jersey coast to New England. No one knows why this manatee, affectionately known as Chessie, strayed so far from its natural habitat. But all who have seen him are intrigued with the gentle giant.
Manatees are marine mammals that belong to the order Sirenia, from the word siren.
In Greek mythology, sirens were creatures who lured sailors to treacherous, rocky shores with their songs. A fifth species, the Stellar's sea cow, was hunted to extinction by 1768. This unique mammal of the Bering Sea grew to more than 30 feet long and ate marine algae. Their closest relatives are elephants and small Asian and African mammals known as hyraxes. The Florida manatee is found primarily along the coast of Florida.