TAMPA, Fla. — According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Manatee deaths went down in 2023.
What You Need To Know
- At ZooTampa at Lowry Park, 20 rescued manatees are being treated for cold stress
- Conservationists warn that despite a drop in manatee deaths in 2023, it’s no reason to let up on efforts to protect the population
- According to FWC, 20% of manatee deaths in 2023 are attributed to a significant red tide bloom in Southwest Florida
But conservationists warn it’s no reason to let up on efforts to protect the population.
At ZooTampa at Lowry Park, 20 rescued manatees are being treated for cold stress.
Molly Lippincot, the Senior Curator of Florida and Marine Life, said while the mortality rate going down is good news, all it would take is one unexpected event, like a significant red tide bloom, to potentially turn those numbers around.
“When there’s only 7,000 in the state or less, and you take away a thousand of those animals in one year because of one big event, that can make such a drastic change to the population,” Lippincot said.
“We don’t want to have anything where we’re all of the sudden not putting the same protections in place or supporting the species long term.”
ZooTampa is adding two more medical pools to its rehab center to accommodate additional rescues. It currently has three that are used for critical care.
According to FWC, 20% of manatee deaths in 2023 are attributed to a significant red tide bloom in Southwest Florida.