Cold kills nearly 200 manatees

[Kurt]

Florida cold kills nearly 200 manatees | floridatoday.com | FLORIDA TODAY

Wildlife biologists say close to 200 of the endangered creatures have perished because of the extreme cold. That's an unprecedented number.
And there are so many live ones turning up stressed by the cold that it's putting a strain on the statewide system for caring for the injured marine mammals.
By mid-February, 301 manatees had turned up dead from various causes. Martine DeWit of the state Fish and Wildlife Research Institute said Tuesday the average number of deaths for this time of year over the previous five years is just 10.
Manatees cannot tolerate water temperatures below 65 degrees.

 

[Lynnie]

Florida cold kills nearly 200 manatees | floridatoday.com | FLORIDA TODAY

I love manatees.

 

[Valerie L]

As with the sea turtles that were taken to several marine aquariums, I'm sure the aquariums have helped with this terrible event, handling manatees and helping the ones that will live. This is a good reminder to support the aquariums in the state and your counties. They rely on the general public to visit. And if you're looking for a place to send monitary gifts during holidays or birthdays as we do in our family, any wild life refuge or aquarium would put the funds to great use.

 

[kathydwells]

 

[fishheadspin]

Damn global warming!!! wait they did not die of heat stress....Damn global cooling!

 

[beachwanabe]

As with the sea turtles that were taken to several marine aquariums, I'm sure the aquariums have helped with this terrible event, handling manatees and helping the ones that will live. This is a good reminder to support the aquariums in the state and your counties. They rely on the general public to visit. And if you're looking for a place to send monitary gifts during holidays or birthdays as we do in our family, any wild life refuge or aquarium would put the funds to great use.

We were there in January, didn't think the cold would continue into February. So sad for the vulnerable marine life. We always try to frequent Gulf World, get the kids in the swim with the dolpin programs which can get a little pricey, but I figure kids have memories forever and it benefits a great place.