ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Greater than 55 tons of lettuce have been fed to ravenous Florida manatees as a part of an experimental program to assist the slow-moving marine mammals since their pure meals is being destroyed by water air pollution, wildlife officers stated Wednesday.
The lettuce, funded by greater than 1,000 individual donations, is obtainable to manatees that collect within the heat water discharge close to an influence plant on Florida’s east coast as they usually do throughout chilly months.
Officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated in a convention name that the feeding program has made a distinction.
“That’s a considerable quantity,” stated Ron Mezich, feeding program coordinator for the Florida wildlife fee. “We’re not completed but.”
AP Photograph/Rebecca Blackwell
The unprecedented feeding response got here after a record 1,100 manatees died final 12 months, largely due to hunger. The issue requires a long-term resolution as a result of air pollution from agriculture, septic tanks, city runoff and different sources is killing the seagrass on which the marine mammals rely.
By means of Feb. 25 this 12 months, about 375 confirmed manatee deaths have been recorded. That compares to 389 throughout the identical interval final 12 months; each are far above the 136 deaths reported in 2020 through the first two months.
Greater than 80 rescued manatees are presently being cared for at amenities in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and Ohio, in keeping with Terri Calleson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A few of these are deserted calves that usually take longer to get well.
Florida legislators final 12 months offered $8 million for a number of seagrass restoration initiatives that may get off the bottom this 12 months, officers stated. But it surely gained’t be a direct resolution.
“We’re not fixing the seagrass subject in a 12 months,” stated Tom Reinert of the Florida wildlife fee.
AP Photograph/Rebecca Blackwell
There are presently about 7,500 manatees, also referred to as sea cows, residing in Florida waters. They’re listed federally as a threatened species, though there are efforts to offer them the heightened endangered designation.
The strategy of hotter climate means manatees will disperse to areas the place meals is extra plentiful, officers stated.
“It’s warming up, and that’s factor for manatees. They’ll be transferring on,” Reinert stated.
Officers say most distressed manatees in Florida are reported by individuals who spot them and name a state hotline at 888-404-3922.