March 27 is Manatee Appreciation Day and while the number of manatees roaming Florida’s rivers, harbors, and coastline has dwindled in recent years, experts are ‘cautiously optimistic’ that the population is rebounding. A sighting of nearly 1,000 manatees at Blue Spring State Park on a chilly January morning was the latest sign of a turning...
Their alternate name of “sea cow” is fitting as manatees are large, slow and gentle creatures that graze. Take a moment to learn about the beautiful creatures on Manatee Appreciation Day.Record manatee sightings have experts optimistic for the future, following years of habitat loss, a vanishing food supply and boat strikes in Florida.
“We’ve seen a very large die-off of seagrasses and manatees were literally left without a food source, especially along the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Coast of Florida,” said Berchem. “Manatees really have no significant natural predator, so most of what’s happening to them is really human-related.”
“The state is seeing incredible momentum for environmental protection to ensure Florida’s natural resources are preserved for generations to come,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “Clean, sustainable water resources are critical for Florida’s residents, visitors, economy and manatees.”
“Naming manatees is very challenging. Anytime that any of us either rescue a manatee or track a manatee, it's going to get a name, and we can't double-name, so we have to be very creative,” joked Ricco.Before the 600-pound manatee was unloaded from a SeaWorld truck and carried to the edge of the water by nine volunteers and researchers, one member attached a GPS tracker to ‘Lizard’s’ tail.
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