This large calf is about a year old and 8 feet long. Although it now seeks its own food, it is still nursing from its mother on occasion. Females are generally not sexually mature until age 5 to 9 years old, males until 6 to 9 years. A female gives birth only once every two or three years, usually to a single calf, or, rarely, twins. The gestation period is about 13 months.
Orphans are rare among manatees.
It is quite common for mature female manatees to adopt orphaned calves and nurse them as their own. This manatee is about 2 years old. Average mature manatees are 10 feet long and weigh in the neighborhood of 1,200 pounds. The lifespan of a manatee is thought to be greater than 50 years. Manatees face many challenges to survive in the wild.