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Authors used a "...standarized questionaire designed to document the occurrence, mortality, feeding habits, and behavior of manatees, as described to us by local residents...to report on the period 1990-1998...The survey began in April 1998, covering three areas: the coastal zones north and south of Bissau, and the Bijagos Archipelago...According to our interview results, 209 manatees were killed in the study area between January 1990 and May 1998...No major differences were found in manatee mortality among regions...Approximately 72% of deaths resulted from interaction with fishing gear, 13%...were hunted and 4% were accidentally stranded at low tide. In 11% of the cases the cause of death remainded unknown...Entanglement in fishing nets seems to account for the most immediate threat...Although illegal, manatee hunting is still a common practice all over West Africa, and represents one of the most significant mortality factors..."