Shocking. And wrong.
830. That's the number of endangered Florida manatees that needlessly perished last year -- largely victims of deadly boat strikes and toxic "red tide" algal blooms. And now manatees are facing another disturbing menace.
Each winter, these gentle giants retire to Florida's warm natural springs -- but instead of rest and quiet, they find their habitat overrun with tourists who grab and harass them, blocking their access to the warm waters they need to survive. In some cases, calves have even been separated from their mothers.
Last year's devastating death toll makes it clear: manatees need your voice to help them survive.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the power to ensure that the vulnerable manatees have a safe place to thrive by establishing new and bigger sanctuaries, and by setting safer guidelines for tourists. Let's send 50,000 messages to FWS Director Dan Ashe by May 31 to ensure he gets the job done!
Sign the petition: Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect endangered manatees!
