Everyone likes manatees. Except, perhaps, for whoever scraped “TRUMP” into a manatee in 2020.
Manatee populations have recovered significantly over the last few decades, after hunting and habitat loss decimated their populations. But in early 2021, manatee deaths have suddenly spiked, with nearly 360 known deaths as of mid-February, reports the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). A combination of factors, including problematic trends in polluted waters and depleted food, could be driving the die-off event of these charismatic mammals, dubbed “sea cows.” But the certain cause or causes of this abrupt spike are still being investigated, as a majority (68 percent) of dead manatees have not yet been necropsied by the state. Read more…
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