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Hi John,
Heartbreaking news: In Florida, more than 100 manatees under a year old have already died this year, on pace to nearly double the annual average.
And because not all manatees who perish are discovered, the real number is probably even higher.
The Center for Biological Diversity is pushing to restore full protection to manatees under the Endangered Species Act. Please help now with a gift to the Saving Life on Earth Fund.
The past few years have been catastrophic for these gentle animals. Nearly 20% of the population has been lost.
Sadly, while the total deaths per year have gone down, nearly 1 in 3 manatees who have died this year were less than a year old.
Scientists aren't yet sure what is driving the die-off of these calves. It's possible that the increase is attributable to a reproductive rebound following the years-long mortality event.
It's also possible that years of malnutrition are exacting their price. In many waters pollution-fueled algae severely choked the seagrass that manatees depend on for food.
Biologists have warned about the long-lasting effects of starvation across generations of manatees: Malnourished mothers may be giving birth to weaker calves, whose fates could be sealed at a very early age.
What's clear is that manatees' future isn't secure — and that they urgently need greater protection.
This news comes on the heels of a mass die-off that began in 2021, when more than 1,000 manatees perished, making it the deadliest year on record.
There's no more time to lose. With years of manatee deaths and an uncertain future, the species is pushed close to the brink.
We'll make sure agencies charged with protecting wildlife do everything in their power to keep the species we love from edging closer to extinction.
We can't imagine a future without manatees, and we know you can't either.
Please make a donation today to the Saving Life on Earth Fund.
For the wild,
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