Manatees in Florida to be fed to prevent starvation
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Loading... - Grace Clark
- 09 Dec 2021
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Florida’s manatees – which are increasingly facing starvation, largely as a result of pollution – are going to be fed directly by wildlife officials, in what they called an “unprecedented” step to prevent further die-off.
The pilot programme will start with Indian River Lagoon, on the state’s east coast southeast of Orlando, federal and state authorities announced yesterday.
Many manatees migrate to this area in winter to bask in the warm water discharged by a nearby power plant and to graze on seagrass.
But over the last decade, heavy runoff from nearby farms and urban areas has caused algae blooms to explode, which increasingly threaten the sea mammals’ main food source.
The algae blocks out sunlight, which seagrass needs to grow, while also releasing poisonous toxins.
At least 1,017 manatees have died so far this year, with the most deadly winter months still to come.
“This unprecedented event is worth unprecedented actions,” said Thomas Eason, deputy director of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Under the new programme, only a small number of individuals will be authorised to feed the manatees in the Indian River Lagoon, and only if necessary, Eason explained, reiterating that the general public should not do so.
In captivity, manatees are fed a diet of salad, cabbage and other vegetables.
Also known as sea cows, manatees are large animals of about 3m in length and weighing between 360kg and 540kg. Read More…
