Humans Are One of Their Biggest Problems
Unfortunately, humans are some of the biggest threats facing these gentle creatures. In Florida alone, 119 manatees were killed by boat strikes in 2018, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In other parts of the world, such as Brazil, manatees are hunted for their meat.
Nonetheless, there are also other dangers for these lovely sea cows. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership notes that besides watercraft injury, reasons manatees need rescuing on occasion also include entanglement in fishing gear, red tide exposure, cold stress, entrapment and natural illnesses. Orphaned manatees also require rescue.
