Florida manatees are a state tourist attraction, known for their docility and sociable personality with humans.
Still, nearly 1,000 individuals died last year, most of them from starvation, as the seagrass that are their main food source disappear.
Although manatees are a protected species, the grasses they feed on do not enjoy any type of protection.
The marine flora is affected mainly by the fertilizers that reach the sea and the dragging of boat anchors on the ocean floor.
Manatees can be up to four meters long and weigh 1,600 kilos.
They are herbivores and can survive in salt and fresh water.
Its reproduction is slow.
They produce one brood every two years on average.
There is still hope for the species, especially in western Florida, where there is less human and boating activity.
State Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced a $3.5 billion plan to restore the Everglades ecosystem, a rich wetland area in South Florida.
In addition, marine restoration projects seek to reforest the algae that feed them.
The Save Crystal River Project has planted almost 32 hectares of ocean flora to try to reverse the impact on manatees before it is too late.
