https://gizmodo.com/florida-desperately-...1848595623
EXCERPT: Manatees are currently experiencing an unusual mortality event, most likely due to a lack of seagrass. Manatees typically graze on seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon, an estuary just north of Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast.
A commission release noted that algal blooms in the lagoon in recent years killed off seagrass, causing manatees to starve. There are nearly 50,000 fewer acres of seagrass today than in 2009, according to the Guardian, meaning that the 7,500-odd sea cows in the state have precious little of their main food source.
To prevent starvation, conservation groups regularly distribute lettuce (mostly romaine) as a stand-in for seagrass. In a press conference Wednesday, officials announced that they would increase the amount of romaine to about 20,000 pounds per week, CNN reported.
“At this point in time, we have been successful. Manatees are eating the romaine,” said Ron Mezich, who works in the Imperiled Species Management Section of the Florida-based commission, during the news conference. “We are exposing large amount of animals to this food source and we are making a difference.” (MORE - missing details)
https://youtu.be/gLKy4WZTCck
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/gLKy4WZTCck
EXCERPT: Manatees are currently experiencing an unusual mortality event, most likely due to a lack of seagrass. Manatees typically graze on seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon, an estuary just north of Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast.
A commission release noted that algal blooms in the lagoon in recent years killed off seagrass, causing manatees to starve. There are nearly 50,000 fewer acres of seagrass today than in 2009, according to the Guardian, meaning that the 7,500-odd sea cows in the state have precious little of their main food source.
To prevent starvation, conservation groups regularly distribute lettuce (mostly romaine) as a stand-in for seagrass. In a press conference Wednesday, officials announced that they would increase the amount of romaine to about 20,000 pounds per week, CNN reported.
“At this point in time, we have been successful. Manatees are eating the romaine,” said Ron Mezich, who works in the Imperiled Species Management Section of the Florida-based commission, during the news conference. “We are exposing large amount of animals to this food source and we are making a difference.” (MORE - missing details)
https://youtu.be/gLKy4WZTCck