|
Hi John,
Manatee calves spend up to two years alongside their mothers.
But the mass die-off of Florida's manatees has left numerous calves abandoned. They must now learn to feed and find resting areas on their own.
It's clear these gentle giants are in crisis and urgently need full Endangered Species Act protection.
Please help us fight for manatees and other wildlife with a gift to the Saving Life on Earth Fund.
890 manatees have died so far in 2021 — already more than twice as many deaths as in all of 2020.
These slow-moving, intelligent mammals are starving to death and swimming through some of the worst pollution they've ever known. Meanwhile boat strikes remain a constant threat.
And while the rate of deaths has slowed, scientists fear another spike of manatee deaths this upcoming winter. Cooler winter waters and less seagrass could push this species closer to the brink.
The manatee fatalities so far this year represent 10% of the total population. They have no more time to lose.
Pollution from fertilizers, pesticides and human waste is poisoning the water they live in and depleting the seagrass they eat.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun a review to determine what protections they need under the Endangered Species Act. Manatees are now listed as "threatened," but it's clear that's not enough.
The Center has fought for years to protect manatees, including with lawsuits to secure Endangered Species Act protection and safeguard them from harmful algal blooms.
Manatees are a keystone species, so their plight presents a serious threat to Florida's marine ecosystems.
To stop the extinction crisis, we must take bold steps to protect species and their habitat.
Please help manatees and other imperiled species by giving to the Saving Life on Earth Fund.
For the wild,
|
