29th March, 2024
CHIRANJIT MITRA
Manatees, those lovable "sea cows," face challenges threatening survival
Manatees were once considered endangered but were downlisted to threatened in 2017.
Sadly, manatees in Florida are now experiencing a mass die-off due to starvation.
Pollution and algae blooms destroy their seagrass food source, leading to widespread malnutrition.
Boat strikes are another major threat, injuring and killing manatees in busy waterways.
Manatees are the only plant-eating marine mammals and play a vital role in their ecosystem.
Conservation efforts are underway, but the future of manatees remains uncertain.
We can all help by responsibly protecting waterways, boating and supporting manatee research.