A record number of manatees were spotted basking in a shallow Florida waterway over the weekend, a promising situation for the endangered species.
Officials counted 932 sea cows swimming Sunday at the Blue Springs State Park site, a warm haven for the mammals located 30 miles north of Orlando.
This number broke the park's previous record of 736 manatees observed in a single day at the park on New Year's Day this year. This was announced by park officials.
Exhilarating photos from the record-breaking morning show showed dozens of manatees enjoying the crystal clear waters, surrounded by the lush foliage of the reserve park.
Underwater livestream cameras captured dozens of manatees hiding beneath the surface, but strong winds made it difficult, perhaps impossible, to count every individual manatee swimming through the waterway.
“It is very likely that many more people had gathered inside and were huddled together, making it impossible to identify them.” Save the Manatee Club said.
The record was set on what authorities described as “the coldest morning so far this season.” The water temperature in the nearby St. Johns River was a relatively cold 58.8 degrees, so nearly 1,000 manatees sought warmth in the park's waters, which run at a constant 72 degrees year-round.
Sea cows cannot tolerate water temperatures below 68 degrees for long periods of time, so they congregate in shallow waters from mid-November to March.
Blue Springs State Park says marine mammals only have about an inch of fat and are susceptible to cold stress syndrome. This is “comparable to hypothermia, pneumonia, and frostbite in humans and can cause severe symptoms.”
Considered an endangered species, the manatee population is slowly recovering.
In 2023, more than 550 manatees died in Florida due to watercraft accidents, disease, and starvation. But that's down from the 1,027 deaths in 2021, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Department. data show.
Manatee numbers are currently very encouraging as we discover that the seagrass that manatees rely on in key winter foraging areas on the East Coast is starting to recover and manatee numbers appear to be declining. In December, wildlife officials halted a two-year experimental feeding program. Feeling unwell heading into the stressful cold season.
The hunger problem has been found to be caused by nitrogen, phosphorous, and sewage pollution from agriculture, urban runoff, and other sources, causing algae blooms that manatees and other marine life depend on. It will kill the seaweed.
The total Florida manatee population is estimated to be between 8,350 and 11,730 individuals.
with post wire
