A major decision about Florida’s manatees sparked debate in marine conservation circles. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided not to change Florida manatees‘ status from “threatened” to “endangered,” despite more than 2,000 manatees dying from lack of food in recent years. The story unfolds in Florida’s waters, where these large marine mammals face a growing challenge. Their main food source – underwater seagrass meadows – is vanishing due to water pollution and harmful algae growth. This creates a direct threat to manatee survival. “This decision ignores the devastating die-off,” explains Ragan Whitlock from the Center for Biological Diversity. His … Continue reading Florida Manatees Starve as ‘Endangered’ Status Denied Despite Over 2,000 Deaths from Seagrass Loss