How to Save Endangered Manatees
Manatees are large, grey aquatic mammals that are related to elephants. Although migratory, manatees concentrate in Florida waters during the winter months where they eat vegetation in estuaries. Experts consider the loss of habitat to be the greatest threat to manatees. Because they can rest submerged in water and are slow moving, manatees are often hit by motorized watercraft as well.
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Choose non-motorized boats in areas with manatees. Most human-related manatee deaths involve collisions with motorized watercraft. When in areas known as manatee habitat, use kayaks and other less harmful modes of transportation. If you have to use a motor, do so with extreme care and keep a careful eye out for manatees.
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Join the manatee sighting network. Individuals who live along a body of water in Florida can report manatee sightings to researchers who track movement. This research can help establish protected areas and protect manatees through other conservation efforts.
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Participate in reputable manatee tours. Tourism dollars connected to manatees provides extra incentive for policymakers and cities to protect manatees. Look for organizations participating in manatee conservation for tours to best protect these mammals.
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Visit manatees at zoos and manatee rescues to support the conservation efforts of the organizations. Rescues and local zoos help rehabilitate injured manatees with the hope of returning them to the wild. They also help educate people about these animals and how to best help them.
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Donate money to a manatee conservation organization such as Save the Manatee Club. You can "adopt" a manatee or purchase manatee related clothing and gifts. Money given to conservation can be used for rehabilitation, habitat care and lobbying policymakers for sanctuary protection.
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Clean up any fish hooks, line, litter or nets you may have while fishing or you find along beaches. These items present a danger to manatees and can also harm other wildlife.
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Give manatees their space. Although it's possible to dive or swim with manatees, most experts agree you should avoid touching, chasing, or cornering these mammals as these actions could cause them to become habituated to humans or make them move from protected areas into more dangerous ones. Instead, watch manatees from a distance.
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Comments
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This so true.
