Florida Manatee Deaths Break Annual Record with 841 Confirmed

UngulateNerd92

UngulateNerd92

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“This catastrophic die-off foreshadows the manatee’s future unless we take immediate and effective action,” said Elizabeth Fleming, senior Florida representative at Defenders of Wildlife. “They’re starving to death. Ongoing water pollution has wiped out large areas of seagrass, a major food source. This situation cannot continue.”

Florida manatee mortality numbers now stand at 841 since the start of 2021, accounting for approximately 10% of the estimated total population of 8,810 animals and breaking the all-time record for annual manatee deaths. The previous record was set in 2013 with 830 casualties. With over five months left in the year, the death toll will likely continue to rise.

Florida Manatee Deaths Break Annual Record with 841 Confirmed
 
Here is another relevant article.

As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation

Over 10% Of Florida's Total Manatee Population Has Died So Far This Year

In Florida, wildlife managers and environmental groups are stunned by a record number of manatee deaths. More than 750 manatees have died since the beginning of the year, the most deaths ever recorded in a five month period. Most of the deaths are in Florida's Indian River Lagoon, where a large die-off of seagrass has left manatees without enough to eat.

Indian River Lagoon isn't actually a river. It's a large estuary bounded by barrier islands on Florida's Atlantic coast, extending more than 150 miles from Cape Canaveral to Stuart. For years, there have been concerns about declining water quality in the lagoon, caused by a number of factors including development, septic systems, storm water runoff and warming temperatures from climate change.

As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation
 
And here is another relevant article.

Florida Breaks Annual Manatee Death Record In First 6 Months Of 2021

More manatees have died already this year than in any other year in Florida's recorded history, primarily from starvation due to the loss of seagrass beds, state officials said.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that 841 manatee deaths were recorded between Jan. 1 and July 2, breaking the previous record of 830 that died in 2013 because of an outbreak of toxic red tide.

Florida Breaks Annual Manatee Death Record In First 6 Months Of 2021
 
Here is another relevant article.

Four Years Ago Manatees Were Declared No Longer Endangered. Now They Are Dying At A Record Pace

The manatee was too weak to swim.

She lay still in a medical pool at a SeaWorld rehabilitation center, only lifting her whiskered snout every so often to breathe. Her snout rested upon a pipe to make the effort easier. Her body was slender, hardly that of the chunky manatee—a relative of elephants—that she should have been. Her underbelly was concave. The manatee was near death from starvation.

Four Years Ago Manatees Were Declared No Longer Endangered. Now They Are Dying At A Record Pace
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Here is another relevant article.

Four Years Ago Manatees Were Declared No Longer Endangered. Now They Are Dying At A Record Pace

The manatee was too weak to swim.

She lay still in a medical pool at a SeaWorld rehabilitation center, only lifting her whiskered snout every so often to breathe. Her snout rested upon a pipe to make the effort easier. Her body was slender, hardly that of the chunky manatee—a relative of elephants—that she should have been. Her underbelly was concave. The manatee was near death from starvation.

Four Years Ago Manatees Were Declared No Longer Endangered. Now They Are Dying At A Record Pace
Click to expand...

I shared this specific article in a Facebook group that I belong to.

A friend of mine who is also in that group had this to say;

"We were checking human population densities today and found that for Florida is not far behind that for Haiti (see my Sep 28 post). Being part of a rich country does not prevent the destruction of nature when there are simply too many people. The plight of the manatee is symbolic of what's happening to Florida."

Another person from the group had this to say;

"It is a shame to see the Endangered Species Act turned into a joke."

Unfortunately I agree with both statements.
 
This is so sad.
Of course most of the problem is the destruction of nature, deaths by motorboats and frosty temperatures.
However, zoos could help (more), if the authorities would let them. It would make sense if more states (and even other countries) could get rehab FLORIDA manatees for breeding purposes to raise the population and release some of the specimens later... But when I see that - afaik - even SW San Diego had to sent back their manatees to Florida...
 
zoomaniac said:
This is so sad.
Of course most of the problem is the destruction of nature, deaths by motorboats and frosty temperatures.
However, zoos could help (more), if the authorities would let them. It would make sense if more states (and even other countries) could get rehab FLORIDA manatees for breeding purposes to raise the population and release some of the specimens later... But when I see that - afaik - even SW San Diego had to sent back their manatees to Florida...
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you! One factor that isn't helping our biodiversity loss crisis is too much reluctance and hesitation for Ex-Situ conservation solutions. As I have said, it is my personal belief that every wild animal and plant species, subspecies, and distinct population segment when and where possible needs to have a captive assurance population and yes that includes Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
 
Here is another relevant article.

Pollution Causing Food Scarcity, Death for Florida Manatees

Manatees are majestic creatures, and their presence near Florida brings a lot of awe from locals and tourists alike. But worsening pollution from agricultural runoff, wastewater and other pollutants is causing one of their primary food sources — seagrass — to run scarce.

Pollution Causing Food Scarcity, Death for Florida Manatees - EcoWatch
 
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