Manatees have been on the endangered species list since 1973.  Unfortunately since January of this year 174 manatees have died.  They have been perishing at alarming rates this year due to the red algea in the warm waters of Florida, where many manatees migrate during the winter months.  Since January there has been a boom of red algea in Florida.  This is not unuaual and happens about every year around the time of January in Southwest Florida and can last up to a few weeks.  However this year the red algea has lasted much longer than in the past.  The toxic algea has remained in an area of warm water where the manatees have migrated and has settled into the see grass.  This sea grass is then eaten by the manatees and the toxins go into the manatees bodies.  The red algea attacts the immune system and can cuase lack of coordination in the water and siezures.  What is dangerous is that becuase of these effects the manatees are not able to get to the surface of the water to breath.  This year only 12 have been rescued and officials have asked fo
Laura Renzi
3/13/2013 01:36:48 am

I think that before manatees become extinct, some sort of agency needs to do something about the depleting amount of manatees. I wonder if they will ever be able to find a way to get rid of this red algae which is dangerous to animals.

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Matthew Nickles
3/13/2013 11:50:34 am

I love manatees. I find it interesting that agencies who are trying to preserve animals on the endangered species list also protect them from naturally occurring environmental threats. I always associate saving endangered species to be the cause of humans and their is mostly a campaign the goes along with it in order to stop whatever us humans are doing to kill them.

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