Florida Manatee Research Paper

Everyone loves the Florida manatee because they look like big puppy dogs with a cute endless smile. In addition, they are beautiful creatures that bring a smile to every face that sees them floating along in their natural habitat or in the local aquarium. Undoubtedly, the Florida manatee is one of the friendliest species in the world even though they are huge animals weighing up to twelve hundred pounds and reaching ten-foot long. Despite what this gentle creature has been through at the hands of human beings, the Florida manatee looks as happy as ever when they are sighted feeding in their natural environment. However, the manatee population is being threatened and needs help to prevent further decline. The reduction in the Florida manatee

In the nineteenth century, the Florida manatee population started to decline in numbers due to settlers hunting them for their meat (Pittman 15). In addition, during that time some of the scientists started to notice a decline in manatee sightings in areas they were known to migrate. Since permits were being granted to kill Florida manatees for science, and poachers were hunting them for their meat, government officials and researchers were concerned for the manatee's future (Pittman 17). Currently, there are many factors the Florida manatee is facing that poses a threat to their existence. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to the Florida manatee in the twenty-first century is boating and the loss of their natural habitat (McAullife 18). In fact, many boaters who have businesses have protested that their businesses are more important than the clumsy animals. Currently, another public concern for the Florida manatee is the increase of toxic blooms that cause red tide. In addition, since records have been kept researchers have discovered that red tide has been playing a role in the decline of the Florida manatee as well (Raloff 56). Red tide is a form of many toxins that are consumed by the manatee when they feed on seagrasses causing lung

Clearly, when local politicians and researchers saw that the Florida manatee population was decreasing back in the nineteenth century, they decided to present a bill to The House of Representatives to protect the manatees from being killed. For example, on April 4, 1893, the state passed House Bill 295, "An act to protect the manatee" (Pittman 16). As a result, the Florida manatee is protected from being hunted or killed for the sake of science in the State of Florida. Currently, in the twenty-first century, researchers have been studying Florida manatee migration to help state lawmakers apply wake zones to prevent fewer boater collisions with the species (McAuliffe 18). Furthermore, the outcome of the manatee migration study has helped boating problems that exist today to be somewhat successful. Due to the wake zones implemented by the state, boater participation has resulted in fewer annual Florida manatee deaths since 2007 ( Pittman 364). In addition to the boating problem today, many researchers believe increased ocean traffic may be causing frequent red tide recurrences. Janet Raloff points out in "Toxic Surfs" that a decrease in the worlds ocean traffic may reduce red tide (56). Undoubtedly, this may be the hardest solution yet in helping the Florida manatee survive because it involves compliance with the world and not just Florida