The West Indian manatee, or sea cow, should no longer be considered an endangered species because its population has rebounded, particularly in Florida, US officials said Thursday.
“The manatee’s recovery is incredibly encouraging and a great testament to the conservation actions of many,” said Cindy Dohner, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s southeast regional director.
When aerial surveys began in 1991, officials counted 1,267 of them in Florida, the US Fish and Wildlife Service said.
Now there are more than 6,300 in Florida alone, and the entire population is estimated at 13,000 manatees in its range which includes the Caribbean and the northern coasts of Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil.
Record Number Of Manatees Seen In Florida Count
The Fish and Wildlife Service said “significant improvements in its population and habitat conditions and reductions in direct threats” have helped propel the population in Florida 500 percent higher in 25 years.
Therefore, the agency has proposed downgrading the underwater grass-eaters to “threatened.”
Under federal law, an endangered species is “currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”
A threatened species “is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future,” the FWS said.
The proposal is open to public comments until April 7.
Sea Monsters Real And Imagined: Photos
Manatees feed on sea grasses and must come above water to breathe every 15 minutes or so.
They can reach 13 feet (four meters) in length and weigh up to 1,300 pounds (600 kilograms).
Their lifespan tends to be about 40 years.
Some conservation groups, such as the Save The Manatee Club, oppose the idea of downgrading the creatures’ status because they say many threats still remain, and death counts have been high in recent years.
From 2010-2013, 2,441 manatees died in Florida waters, Save the Manatee Club said.
GMT 09:31 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Over 100 endangered turtles hatch in SingaporeGMT 04:45 2018 Friday ,19 January
Microwave ovens are cooking the environment: studyGMT 12:28 2018 Saturday ,06 January
Bonobos prefer bullies over 'nice guys'GMT 17:42 2017 Wednesday ,18 October
N. Korea nuclear test site may be a 'Tired Mountain'GMT 19:57 2017 Wednesday ,06 September
Russian ecologists: Nord Stream 2 damages precious refugeGMT 03:12 2017 Monday ,04 September
NATO condemns North Korea’s sixth nuclear testGMT 19:41 2017 Monday ,14 August
Bear shot in Italy after attacking walkerGMT 11:01 2017 Tuesday ,08 August
Birthplace of Apostle Peter found in IsraelMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor