The West Indian manatees finally lost their Endangered species status. On the latest report on Thursday, the U.S. Interior Department reconsidered the species as a “threatened” species. Before conservation, very few numbers of manatees aka sea cows were left which made them endangered.
In 1970 government took protection against their death, since then the number has been increasing. However, manatees are not totally out of the danger of extinction because the term “threatened” actually means that they are protected under the Endangered Species act. However, over the past few decades, their numbers have become more than 6,600.
Phys reported that Florida coastline is their native place. But, after conservation, their range extends up to the southeastern United States through the Caribbean basin which includes Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central and northern South America. Director of theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jim Kurth said in a report,“While there is still more work to be done to fully recover manatee populations, particularly in the Caribbean. Manatee numbers are increasing and we are actively working with partners to address threats”.
According to Business Insider, US government has set some more restrictions for Marine Mammal Protection Act. Last year almost 520 deaths of manatees were recorded in Florida coast and 104 of them were died due to the collision of watercraft. To avoid the collision, the government set a speed limit of the boat in the areas of manatees.
Director of the Center for Biological Diversity in Florida Jaclyn Lopez explained that manatees are still in danger, because pollution, habitat loss, climate changes and other human activities are also responsible for their deaths. Interior Department also pointed malnutrition is also a main cause of their mass death. Manatees are one of the first mammal species to be classified as endangered species under Endangered Species Protection Act of 1966, along with red wolf, whooping cranes, American alligators and grizzly bears.
