Florida's enchanting manatees are experiencing alarming mortality rates. Nearly 2,000 of them - more than 20% of their population - have perished in the past two years.

The death toll climbed to over 740 in the past year, adding to the heavy losses of around 1,100 in 2021. These gentle marine mammals face slow death from starvation due to seagrass loss, exacerbated by navigating amidst some of the highest pollution levels they've ever encountered.

Although classified as 'threatened', the dire circumstances of the manatees call for more robust protection offered under the Endangered Species Act. 

We implore the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reclassify Florida's manatees as 'endangered' to help secure their survival.

The continuous spate of manatee deaths has wiped out over 12% of their total population, and this crisis shows no signs of abating. Swift protective action is necessary to safeguard them.

Manatees play a crucial role as a keystone species - their well-being is linked to the health of other flora and fauna. Their crisis signifies a cautionary tale about the future of Florida's aquatic ecosystems.

The escalation in manatee fatalities is a horrific episode of ecocide that requires an immediate halt.

Raise your voices with us, call upon the Fish and Wildlife Service to afford the manatees comprehensive protection under the Endangered Species Act before it's too late. We owe it to these remarkable creatures, and to ourselves, to better care for our shared ecosystem.