Cold Leads To Record Manatee Deaths-this year more dead have been recovered than in all of 2009

[The Straight Story]

Cold Leads To Record Manatee Deaths
Experts To Study Long-Term Impact On Population

ORLANDO, Fla. -- In the first three months of this year more dead manatees have been recovered than in all of 2009.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 431 manatee carcasses have been found in state waters so far this year.

Until now, 2009 held the record for highest number of manatee deaths in a calendar year at 429.

FWC said the majority of the manatees this year, 222, died of cold stress and it is likely that cold temperatures contributed to many of the 108 deaths in the "undetermined" category and the 64 deaths in the "unrecovered" category.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/22920766/detail.html

[Enthusiast]

1. That is sad to hear.

A similar aquatic mammal, Steller's Sea Cow was apparently cold adapted and lived in salt water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar%27s_Sea_Cow