Target: Delaware Senator Tom Carper, Head of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Goal: Demand funding for manatee research and conservation to protect their declining population.
There are currently three species of manatees on this earth, and all of them are endangered or threatened. The Florida manatees, who live in the southern east coast waters, are one of the most critically endangered animals in the entire country. They have a small population hovering around 6,000. 2021 has proven to be a particularly difficult year for these gentle giants, and tragically over 800 of them have died. This has been attributed to several factors, including motorboats, but the largest contributor to manatee death appears to be the loss of their main food: sea grass beds.
These sea grass beds provide countless benefits to the shallow coastal waters they’re often found in. They grant food and shelter to hundreds of species of fish and animal, and their importance on the ecosystem cannot be understated. However, they’ve been disappearing rapidly in recent years due to ocean pollution, climate change, and other human activities. This has directly threatened manatees and caused many to starve to death.
Unfortunately, not much is known about the overall effects manatees have on their local ecosystems. Like many environmental concerns, their funding has often been slashed and allocated to other things. Sign below and demand Congress provide dedicated funds to researching and conserving manatees and the sea grass beds that feed them before it’s too late.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Tom Carper,
As the head of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, you are in a crucial position to help with an increasingly important issue. The manatee populations off the coast of Florida have been in a rapid decline this year, with over 800 lost due to their main source of food, sea grass beds, disappearing. Manatees are incredibly gentle and docile creatures, with no ability to migrate thousands of miles or seek out alternative methods of survival. Additionally, sea grass beds provide food and shelter to countless other animals.
There is much we still don’t know about manatees and their effect on local ecosystems. It is critical that we divert funding into studying manatees and sea grass beds, both so that we can help preserve their populations for years to come and so that we better understand everything they do. Please make these investments on a creature that has been harmed by humans time and time again, and truly deserves better.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Benjamin Brandt
NO ANIMALS SHOULD EVER STARVE TO DEATH!!!!
I totally agree!!! All animals lives matter❤
I agree with Wendy NO ANIMAL SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND. Each and everyone was put on Earth for a reason ….so each and everyone must be considered and given their opportunity to thrive.
All those in power MUST not turn a blind eye and must set in motion humane animal treatment laws that are enforced for their individual country!
HUMANS have created unpardonable problems on this planet and it’s their OBLIGATIONS to HELP ANIMALS who are SILENT VICTIMS of human MISMANAGEMENT of EARTH!!!!!!!
It’s about time we start taking care of all the animals put on this earth
These manatees must not be allowed to starve. We, as humans, should be aware that all animals need to have their habitat, whether it’s land or water. We need to stop destroying our Earth out of greed.
Florida is the most ecologically diverse State we have. These manatees are such graceful gentle creatures. Our seagrass beds are being destroyed (their main source of food) by moronic boaters who don’t have a clue and speeding boaters who hit and kill them! Half of these idiots have more money and/or debt than brains! The commercial guys and responsible boat owners would probably concur that they should have to be licensed to operate a boat! Just like they should be to own an animal! There simply is NO EXCUSE for sheer stupidity & carelessness. They are all God’s creatures that we have a responsibility to take care of!
Humans are the most pathetic breed in the universe, we are responsible for the demise of these majestic animals. They will soon become extinct as humans continue to ruin their environment, overcrowding, pollution, boats ,and the list gies on. Will we ever learn that inhabit this planet and deserve to live here to.
PEOPLE INDEED CREATE HORIFFIC CONDITIONS FOR ALL ANIMALS. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND I LEARN OF THEAE MAJESTIC MANATEES DEMISE ON A DAMN DAILY BASIS. HELP THESE ANIMALS AND S T O P THE DAMN HIGH SPEED BOATERS WHO DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT RUNNING INTO AND OVER THEM. I WISH THAT THESE HI-SPEED BOATERS WOULD EXPERIENCE BEING RUN INTO AND OVER AND SEE HOW IT FEELS TO BE GROUND UP BY THEIR ENGINES. AND YES, I DO MEAN EXCTLY WHAT I WROTE.
THERES SO MANY HUMANS IN FLORIDA THAT IT’S AFFECTING THE MARINE FOOD SOURCE !!! ALL WILD LIFE THERE ARE LOSING THEIR HABITAT’S !!!
They must be saved. 20 years from now, there are going to be so many animals non-existent if something isn’t done now
Every animal has a vital role in keeping this planet vibrant and sustainable for all other animals. The loss of one affects all other living beings including humans. We must do our best to insure they all survive.
DO NOT LET THESE MANATEES STARVE!!!! NO ANIMAL SHOULD EV ER HAVE TO STARVE TO DEATH! DO SOMETHING!!!!!
Tom Carper,
We the signed, reach out to you to address the decline of the Manatee population. It is true that their decline is due to human neglect and recklessness. As the head of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, we ask that you provide funding for the Manatees so that we do not lose these beautiful creatures for good.
Florida being ruled by the GOP who most don’t believe in climate change and most of them DO NOT CARE about the Environment because most of it they can’t find a way to PROFIT from it & when they do; they Use, Destroy & NEVER Restore. A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS MOSIAC who continues to poison & provide undrinkable water, kills humans, wildlife & land. Mosaic OWNS RUBIO & SCOTT who ALLOWS THEM TO MONITOR THEMSELVES for poison & Radiation levels!!!!
It’s hard to take the political element out of Florida’s environmental collapse as they are directly related to Politicians starting with Jeb Bush then on to Rick Scott & MARCO RUBIO who are owned by the Corporations they allow to pollute. Florida’s Environmental collapse & poisoning of low income communities is Directly due to Political motivation for the usual reasons SAVING MONEY for Corporations who POLLUTE. No one has enforced laws and Polluters MOSIAC & BIG SUGAR are pretty much allowed to do whatever they want as long as they DONATE to these politicians at the expense of the state & the people who live here, Mosaic & Sugar are perfect examples.
Republicans have not changed, they are out for themselves, they do not see government as an institution to defend and promote the rights and needs of citizens.
They see it as an impediment to UNRESTRICTED EXPLOITATION & PROFIT. Unspoiled land and water to Republicans are commodities they will use to Increase Wealth and then DISCARD This is how they are wired. The Republicans motto
This should be an immediate approval – it shouldn’t even have to be asked for. Common sense is all that is required to determine that the Manatees should be saved. We need to start boycotting other things (like buying gasoline for a week) when common sense laws are not passed. It appears that people who don’t understand what common sense is do realize what monetary loss can do to their companies.
Save these beautiful babies!!!
ONCE AGAIN THIS RACE OF PATHETIC HUMANS ARE SO SELFISH AND ONLY THINK OF THEMSELVES. THIS PLANET WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER WITHOUT THEM AND LEFT TO THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AND ANIMALS. WE COULD LEARN SO MUCH FROM ANIMALS BUT ARE SO FULL OF OURSELVES THAT WE CANT EVEN FATHOM THAT IDEA. WELL, CHANGES WILL COME AND SOONER THAN WE THINK. FOOLISH PEOPLE WILL FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR ALL ANIMALS, NATURE AND THEMSELVES….SADLY THE HARD WAY FOR SOME.
We MUST PROTECT our MANATEES — they are crucial to our eco-system — we NEED our MANATEES — they deserve to live.
ALL WILDLIFE, of every type, on this planet needs to be protected. They are totally innocent and deserve to live their lives the way they were meant to live them. IMO