Adopt a Manatee and Help This Fascinating Creature Survive
By Sara Novak
James Gritz/Getty
DCL
Having just returned from Biscayne National Park in Florida, the plight of the manatee weighs heavy on my heart. Those oversized lovers have been dealt a bad hand for years as encroaching motor boats continue to take over their habitat in Florida's subtropical waters. In Florida, scientists from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimate that the 3,000 manatees occupy much of the same space as the 1 million registered boats and thousands of out-of-state vacationing boats. 'The consequences have been grim. In 2006, a near-record 86 manatees were killed while many more had their bones broken or skins sliced by errant propellers.
Now you can help these beauties escape this harsh reality. The Save the Manatee Club provides tons of information about this stunning species and offers everyone the opportunity to adopt a manatee to help these incredible animals survive.
After adopting a manatee, each person receives a photo of their manatee, the manatee's biography, an adoption certificate, a membership handbook, and four newsletters throughout the year with updated reports on the adoptee. The website also provides information so that you can learn about all the legislative issues affecting your manatee right now and how you can help.
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