Gallery Spotlight
MANATEE IN MANGROVES
By Kim B. Parrish
© 2019 – 48 x 36” Oil on Canvas
FLORIDA MANATEE
Trichechus manatus latirostris
FL Status: Federally-designated Threatened
No collection of Florida wildlife art would be complete without the iconic sirenian we know as the manatee. Like ancient ghosts, these massive yet gentle creatures move quietly through Florida waterways. Over the years, my family and I have had the privilege of observing and snorkeling with these graceful mammals in multiple locations in the wild, ranging from freshwater springs in the interior of the state to marine waters of the Space Coast and south to the Florida Keys.
Manatees have silently glided through Florida waters for thousands of years, but they have had a difficult time more recently with many deaths attributed to a combination of algae blooms, adverse temperatures and impact from propellers and lower units. They are currently listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
My original manatee art, “Manatee In Mangroves” is 48 x 36 inches on canvas, and captures an older specimen in a coastal estuary, escorted by a school of mangrove snappers and glass minnows. Some of my paintings are also available as limited edition prints. Thanks for your interest in my work, and I hope you enjoy and protect the beauty of Florida’s wilderness.