How to adopt a Florida manatee for Valentine’s Day as more sea cows than ever need help
It’s no secret Floridians have a huge crush on sea cows, and the nonprofit Save the Manatee offers the chance to put that love into action by adopting a real manatee for Valentine’s Day.
The adoptees come from various parts of the state, including Tampa Bay, Blue Spring State Park near Orange City and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, as well as from other states on the East Coast and Alabama.
In 2021, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recorded a record number of manatee deaths, including 40 in Bradenton and Sarasota area.
“Unfortunately, catastrophic seagrass loss caused by a series of human-induced harmful algae blooms in the Indian River Lagoon — a crucial cold weather manatee habitat on Florida’s east coast — has contributed to increased reports of malnourished manatees and unprecedented numbers of starvation-related manatee deaths, Save the Manatee said in a news release.
The nonprofit’s website says donations to the program toward:
- Emergency rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Sick, injured, or orphaned manatees should be immediately reported to the FWC at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
- Starvation prevention through advocacy of a new state program that feeds lettuce to manatees.
- Collaboration with a network of partners to reducing pollution that leads to seagrass loss and restoring seagrass habitat.
“Excessive nitrogen pollution is a growing threat to all seagrass communities and the species that rely on them, such as manatees, dolphins, fish and birds,” said Save the Manatee Executive Director and Aquatic Biologist Patrick Rose, said in the release “Ultimately, we must stop the cycle of harmful algal blooms that led to the loss of seagrasses in the first place: uncontrolled growth and pollution from our growing human population.”
Save the Manatee was started by musician Jimmy Buffett and former Gov. Bob Graham to save the state’s official marine mammal, which is a threatened species.
As aquatic mammals native to Florida, manatees can be seen near warm water-sites like springs and power plant discharge canals in the winter months.
“Adoptions start at $25 and include a personalized adoption certificate, photo and biography of the chosen manatee, and a one-year Save the Manatee Club membership that includes a newsletter with updates on the adopted manatee,” the website says.
To Adopt-A-Manatee, visit savethemanatee.org/adopt or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).
This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 11:34 AM.
