Manatee Tragedy: Hundreds Die from Cold Stress
For further information, contact Janice Nearing,
Director of Public Relations
Phone: (407) 539-0990
E-mail: jnearing@
savethemanatee.org
For Immediate Release: March 11, 2010
The largest die-off of endangered manatees in recorded history is taking place in Florida as a result of the state’s prolonged, record low temperatures of the last few months. From January 1st through March 5th, at least 193 manatees have died from cold stress. Another 151 deaths have been classified as undetermined or unrecovered, but the majority of these were likely also caused by cold stress. In total, 368 manatees have already died in Florida waters this year.
According to Dr. Katie Tripp, Save the Manatee Club’s Director of Science and Conservation, this unprecedented number of deaths is just 61 deaths shy of the total number of manatees who died in all of 2009 (429), which itself was a record. “Just as we transition out of winter, the spring and summer boating season will begin. Boaters have an important role to play in protecting manatees this spring. As the temperatures warm, boaters will be heading back out to enjoy Florida’s waters just as manatees will be venturing out from warm water sites around the state. These manatees are going to be very hungry and vulnerable after the events of this winter, so extra vigilance will be imperative from the boating community to watch out for manatees and report any manatees that appear unhealthy or injured to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922. We saw a record number of watercraft-related manatee deaths in 2009. With the toll this winter has taken on Florida’s manatees, we must minimize human-related deaths in 2010, and we are asking for a strong commitment from the boating community to make this possible.”
Although many manatees succumbed quickly to cold water temperatures, several dozen were luckier and were rescued. They were taken to three facilities in Florida authorized to provide critical care for sick and injured manatees. The staff at these critical care facilities, as well as staff at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, have been working around the clock to rescue and care for sick manatees affected by the severe cold weather. “We commend them for their heroic efforts on behalf of these manatees,” said Patrick Rose, who is an aquatic biologist and the Executive Director of the Club. “During this crisis, the entire manatee community has worked to the point of exhaustion to render desperately needed assistance.”
“Although air temperatures are starting to increase, it will take some time for water temperatures to rise,” explained Dr. Tripp. “A number of manatees are still in need of rescue for cold stress, but all three critical care facilities are at or near capacity.”
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service asked Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, on Florida’s west coast, to help in this emergency by housing manatees in their above-ground pool. Manatees are being transferred from critical care facilities to Homosassa to create more space for additional cold-related and other rescued manatees at the critical care facilities. Save the Manatee Club is providing the funding to heat the pool and ensure veterinary care for the transferred manatees for up to two months.
“The high number of manatees who died and are still dying from the effects of Florida’s prolonged cold weather underscores how imperative it is to protect winter warm-water habitat,” said Rose. “Further, as we head into Florida’s legislative session, continued funding for the state’s manatee critical care program is at grave risk of being cut to make up for state revenue shortfalls. I hope this disastrous winter will serve as a strong reminder to state legislators that Florida’s critical care program for manatees is absolutely vital to the survival of the species, and that the funding for this crucial program must be maintained.”
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If you’d like to schedule an interview with Patrick Rose or Dr. Tripp, e-mail Janice Nearing at jnearing@savethemanatee.org.
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