Perhaps some of you may remember me mentioning the plight of the Florida manatee a few months back, specifically that their status as an endangered species was being petitioned by the powerful boating lobby. This would have meant that many of the special protections that manatees enjoyed, such as existing in boat-free zones and making boats slow down in the presence of manatees, would have been changed. Well, against my hopes, I have good news to report, as told to me by the SaveTheManatee Club:
Good news for manatees! [On Sept 14th], the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to delay downgrading the manatee's status from endangered to threatened.
Calling the manatee "one of our state's beloved natural resources," in a letter issued to the commissioners on Monday, September 10th, Florida Governor Charlie Crist urged them to postpone their decision given the need for a better method to estimate the manatee population and the record 417 manatee deaths in 2006.
The FWC decided to defer the decision on downlisting manatees until at least the Dec. 5-6 meeting in Key Largo, FL.
This is at least encouraging, although a final decision has not yet been made. Governor Crist's full letter is here, if you care to read it. The govenor cites these reasons for not downgrading the manatee's status: poor methods of estimating the population of the manatees and the record 417 manatee deaths (!!) in 2006. Crist seemed to want to postpone the final evaluation until more data could be accumulated on the manatee's status and numbers, effectively delaying the decision until at least the Dec 5-6 meeting of the Federal Wildlife Commission.
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those manatees r so cuuuuute i am going to learn how to rescue them thank u four putting the pictures on here so i can research manatees again they r so cute!!!!!
Nice article, though.
hi,hi,hi,i wanna knoe about manatee
LOSER LOSER LOSER LOSER LOSER
u r gay
I am an artist with a Tv show with Discovery HD.I would very much like to use the photo shown in an episode i am doing on the Elephants and their plight. The manatee along with the dugong and hyrax is their closest living relative and i would like to use it for that reason and in that context.I would thank u in the credit roll.
Thanks Robert
hi r u saving the manatees
I love the manatee so much.
i read a news article about a 30 foot monster found in Florida canal and they said it is a dangerous creatures. one person installed surveillance cameras and he recorded the said "monster". He showed it to the authorities and they said it's Manatee. I looked for it in the web to see what kind of creature is manatee and what I saw is not a "monster".. I saw a beautiful sea creatures that need to be protected. I commend your Governor for such act and hopefully your people will win the battle. God bless the Florida Manatees!!
I love it
love your fan virginia
OH THE HUGE MANATEE!
http://www.annetteappollo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/oh-the-huge-ma…
:P
wow its so cute and its shaped like big patato it only makes the warm water for power plant i know because i learnes about the story and book i can't believe im commenting about this!
To Mr. Obama If POSSIBLE:
Thursday the 27th, your interview with the media on the oil spill in Louisiana was viewed by the whole world. I had to turn it off as it made me sick. I am sure 99% of the world will agree, the response to this disaster has been poorly dealt with. Your behavior is the very epitome of: BUSINESS AS USUAL. #1: You claim to take full ... See Moreresponsibility for this disaster. If thatâs the case will you chip in some of your own money and your time in cleaning up? Other than your empty words will we see your âresponsibilityâ in ACTION? In what way will this âresponsibilityâ you are taking manifest? I am sure it will be more of your lip service! Your action is taking the American people into another level of defeat. Do you really believe that BP has a monopoly on oil drilling technology? Do they deserve the grace to have the time to somehow make all this right? Why are you so unyielding in keeping BP on point in such an important battle. I for one think you should be booted out of office. We are at war here. You are not the leader we thought you were
Beauticul creature..... I too had experienced an exciting trip through Carnival Cruises, it was having great fun.