Manatee Deaths Up 30% Through 11/05 - FL Ready To Weaken Legal Protections

[hatrack]

ORANGE CITY, Fla. - Sweet Gum was fatally injured by a racing boater. Her calf, Rachel, was also killed by a boat near Lake Monroe, and so was her granddaughter, Ruby. Last year was a hard one for the state's endangered manatee population. Despite educational programs and campaigns targeting boaters, the number of confirmed manatee deaths in Florida jumped 30 percent during the first 11 months of 2005, according to state officials.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission estimated 366 manatees died through Dec. 9, 2005 compared to 276 deaths in 2004. The agency was expected to release final figures for 2005 next week.

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Animal activists fear the current manatee population of 3,200 in Florida will continue to decrease. Increased development along Florida's waterways coupled with pollution and a lack of protective measures for the endangered species are to blame, Valee said. In June, the state is also considering downgrading manatee's endangered status based on a new criteria.

"The criteria is extremely flawed. Manatees still very much need protection," Vallee said. "They're not ready to come off that list and as the threats are increasing, manatees are in even more danger. At Blue Springs Park, Wayne Hartley refers to each manatee like a pet: Phyllis' new calf, Lenny's shrimpy size, Deep Dent's maimed tail. As the Park Service Specialist at Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, Fla., Hartley has gotten to know each one by name. The park's constant temperature of 73 degrees makes it the most popular stop in Florida for manatees during winter months.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10736488/

[The White Tree]

1. Thanks for the post.

I worked with these gentle giants on an internship in college and reading about their continued plight, several years later, saddens me.

They are truly magical creatures and a natural resource that Florida meddles with at a severe cost.