It’s been four years since many of you stepped up during an incredibly challenging moment for Florida’s manatees.
In 2021 an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) resulted in the loss of more than 1,100 manatees, largely due to starvation as seagrass habitats declined across Florida’s east coast. At the time, the situation was critical. Emaciated manatees were rescued at unprecedented rates and for the first time ever emergency supplemental feeding efforts were launched.
Because of your support, our Foundation played a vital role in that response. Together with partners at DUDA, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we funded an unprecedented feeding trial that provided 600,000 pounds of locally grown lettuce to sustain starving manatees. Your generosity ensured food was available when it was needed most.
Today, we’re grateful to share a meaningful update.
A female manatee named Biscuit, who was rescued in Palm Beach County during the height of the UME, has been sighted alive and healthy with a calf by her side. Earlier this year, she was observed swimming near Riviera Beach with her young calf.
When Biscuit was first rescued, she was thin and malnourished, one of many manatees struggling as seagrass declined. After receiving care in rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando, she was released back into the wild in June 2022.
Now she is not only surviving, she is raising the next generation.
Manatees still face ongoing challenges including habitat loss, red tide, and watercraft collisions. The most urgent need is restoring the seagrass beds they rely on for food. You can help bring back these critical habitats. Make a gift today to support seagrass restoration and help secure a healthier future for Florida’s manatees.
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