Experts warn that Florida manatees are disappearing at an alarming rate.

By Maria Alejandra Cardona

CRYSTAL RIVER FL. (Reuters) – Florida manatees, also known as “sea cattles,” are rapidly dying in Florida. Experts believe that their main source of seagrass, which is the sea grass they rely on, has been lost in Florida’s Panhandle region.

James “Buddy” Powell, a manatee biologist, told Reuters TV that out of the estimated population of 6,000-7,000 manatees living in Florida, around 1,000 were killed last year.

Powell stated, “I believe what we see now a wake-up call.” Powell said that manatees will soon be thousands in an area and they’ll expect to find a buffet. They arrive to find it is not there. Powell explained that the starvation and other health issues associated with malnutrition have led to them starving and eventually dying.

Manatees in Florida are protected, but their environment isn’t. They are at risk because of the scarcity and destruction of sea grass habitats.

They are doing well in the western part, thanks to lower human activity and fewer boats.

Sea and Shoreline, a non profit organization led by Powell and dedicated towards aquatic restoration, has been growing manatee grass in Crystal River (the manatee capital of Florida’s Gulf Coast).

Jessica Mailliez, a seagrass biologist who works with Sea and Shoreline for the restoration of seagrass in the region, stated that the Save Crystal River Project is one of our largest projects.

Mailliez said that they have completed 80 acres (32 Ha) so far. The 80 acres of grass they’ve planted has expanded to over 250 Acres (100 Hectares).

Manatees are herbivorous, can grow to as high as 13 feet (4m) and can weight up to 3,500lbs (1,600kg). Manatees can survive in fresh and saltwater and will explore rivers, springs, and inlets. They are gentle, docile and unafraid to humans.

Water pollution, such as fertilizer runoff, human and animal wastes, as well as other human activities like boats dragging anchors across the seabed are all major causes of the death of seagrass.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has allocated $30 million more to manatee rescue, rehabilitation and habitat restoration. Last week, DeSantis issued an executive order proposing a $3.5 billion investment over the next four years in Everglades restoration.

Powell said that Governor DeSantis’ recent executive order is “impressive”. It will make a huge difference in terms of trying restore our coast ecosystems.

(Reporting by Maria Alejandra Cardona, Editing by Sandra Maler & Will Dunham