Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom welcomes the first "mermaid" in China

In early May, the manatee exhibit at Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom joyfully welcomed a newborn West African manatee. Despite being a first-time mother, the manatee mom successfully gave birth naturally underwater in just 1.5 hours — quite impressive. Commonly known as "mermaids," manatees were once considered endangered. There are three surviving species of manatees in the world, all of which are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their unusually low reproductive rate has made it difficult to increase their population. Chimelong, which has created multiple animal breeding miracles in the past, truly lives up to its reputation as an animal haven. The successful birth of this West African manatee is nothing short of a miracle for the marine mammal order Sirenia.

The newborn "little mermaid" is endearingly odd-looking and extremely lovable. According to Zhang Delu, Deputy General Manager of Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the 15-day-old baby manatee is now very healthy and is expected to make its public debut around Children's Day.

Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Successfully Breeds First West African Manatee Calf in China

First in China: Harder Than Hatching 9 Emperor Penguins Simultaneously

According to Liu Changping, manager of the animal management department at Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the West African manatee, also known as the African manatee, is found along the coasts of West Africa and in rivers such as the Niger River. It is the only large marine mammal that is herbivorous, with a body length of up to 4.5 meters and a weight of up to 500 kilograms. Its body is spindle-shaped, with a fan-like tail and grayish skin. The thick, tough skin is often covered with algae on the back, giving it a perpetually "dirty" appearance. Interestingly, the female manatee’s mammary glands are located at the base of the pectoral fins, which become quite prominent during nursing. Occasionally, mothers float to the surface and cradle their calves in their flippers while nursing, leading ancient sailors to romantically mistake them for “mermaids,” a legend that continues to this day. The three existing species of manatees — the Amazonian manatee, the West Indian manatee, and the West African manatee — were all listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2012. Due to the fact that every part of the West African manatee is considered valuable — its meat, hide, bones, and fat are all expensive commodities — the species faced near-extinction from hunting since the 18th century. Additionally, manatees mate less frequently than other mammals. Female manatees reproduce only once every three to five years, with pregnancies lasting 11 to 13 months, and they usually give birth to a single calf. This low reproductive rate has made it difficult for their population to recover.

Originally, there were five West African manatees living in the manatee exhibit at Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom — three females and two males. Around 8:00 p.m. on May 8th, the Chimelong manatee family welcomed a new member — a robust male calf. The entire birthing process, from the appearance of the calf’s tail to the delivery, took just 1.5 hours and went very smoothly. The baby manatee is in excellent health. At birth, it measured 116 cm in length and weighed 25.4 kg, which is equivalent to the physical standards of a 6-year-old child.

Liu Changping, who has over ten years of animal conservation experience, joked that witnessing a manatee birth in person for the first time, and the first time in China, meant there was absolutely no prior breeding experience to draw on — even more challenging than the simultaneous hatching of 9 emperor penguins at Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom last year. Since detecting the pregnancy through ultrasound last June, the team formed a specialist expert panel, consulted numerous books and academic sources, and actively reached out to several foreign experts for advice. They also introduced advanced medical equipment to conduct regular check-ups on the mother manatee, monitored her behavior and food intake separately, and arranged round-the-clock shifts for uninterrupted monitoring after birth. The mother and calf were specifically placed in a highly realistic replica of a wild shallow-water habitat, allowing the mother manatee to rest quietly “postpartum” while providing the calf with a safe environment to nurse and swim despite its inability to easily surface for air in deeper waters. This successful breeding of the endangered West African manatee has yielded invaluable experience.

The manatee mother’s mammary glands are located under her armpits, and the baby needs to nurse 60–70 times a day

Successful Birth: “Mermaid” Mother Gives Natural Birth, Showcasing Strong Maternal Instincts

On the day of birth, experts had already donned diving suits and stood ready in case emergency assistance was needed. However, the manatee mother successfully gave birth in just 1.5 hours. The bond between the mother and calf is very strong — their heads are often nestled together. In the first few days after birth, the mother occasionally lifts her calf above water using her back to teach it how to breathe and swim. The baby manatee nurses 60–70 times a day, all through natural breastfeeding. Even when eating, the mother will immediately stop chewing and remain motionless to help her not-yet-strong-swimming calf feed.

To ensure the mother produces enough milk, the conservation team specially supplemented her diet with moisture-rich fruits such as papaya and cut vegetables into long strips to be fed continuously, minimizing food waste that could dirty the newborn’s environment. The mother manatee consumes an astonishing 40 kg of vegetables daily, including cucumbers, Chinese cabbage, and eggplants. The team also weighs the calf daily to monitor whether the milk supply is sufficient and adjusts the mother’s food portions accordingly.

According to Zhang Delu, Deputy General Manager of Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the park has always been dedicated to the breeding, research, conservation, and education of rare marine and polar animals from around the world. Penguins, dolphins, brown bears, sea lions, and others live happily here and thrive. In just two years, 11 emperor penguins have been successfully bred here — not only setting the record for the lowest latitude emperor penguin hatchings in Asia but also achieving the feat of simultaneously hatching nine emperor penguins. Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has now successfully bred over 24,000 animals.

Parenting Tips:

“Family Month”: 25% Off for Family Trips to Chimelong

The adorable West African manatee mother and calf are expected to meet visitors around Children’s Day. Coinciding with Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom’s “Family Month” theme event, which includes Children’s Day, Father’s Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival, families can enjoy up to 25% off park tickets from now until June 18. For example, tickets for two adults and one child or senior at Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom start at just 710 RMB, and tickets for two adults and two children or seniors start at 780 RMB. For more promotions, please check the Chimelong official website, app, and WeChat public account.

Visit Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom for a family trip and experience the fun and educational “Little Keeper” program.

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