Environmental groups are taking legal action to save Florida's gentle sea giants from what they call a protection crisis.

Govind Tekale

Why is the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge so important? It's winter home to 20% of all Florida manatees—and it's dangerously understaffed.

Photo Source: U.S. Geological Survey (CC BY 2.0)

With just 8 employees managing 32,000 acres across five wildlife refuges, can manatees really be protected from tourist harassment?

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

"Crystal River refuge staffers protect our manatees from harm, but chronic understaffing has hamstrung recovery efforts," warns attorney Ragan Whitlock.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

Documented cases show tourists separating manatee mothers from calves and even riding these protected animals within refuge waters.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

Florida saw a devastating 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021 alone—the highest number ever recorded in a single year.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

Up to 99% of seagrass has disappeared from key manatee habitats over the past fifty years, leaving many animals to starve.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

A federal judge recently ruled that Florida failed to protect manatee habitats from pollution that's killing vital seagrass beds.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

Despite record deaths, wildlife officials chose to keep manatees listed as "threatened" rather than upgrading them to "endangered" status.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

Without more staff, extended sanctuary boundaries, or stricter visitor rules, legal action may be the manatees' last hope.

Photo credit: David Hinkel (CC BY 2.0)

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