A changing US law could impact animals like Böëna
Recent changes to The Endangered Species Act could impact the lives and habitats of more than 100 species found in Florida, including manatees. Starting September 14th, the definition of “harming” an animal as defined in this law will no longer include damaging its habitat.
Manatees rely on seagrass beds for food, and if those beds are destroyed by other means, this could undo the hard work conservationists have done to protect this species.
Here at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, we received the first rescued manatee in Costa Rica back in January. Baby Böëna is gaining weight and we aim to release her back into the wild one day, if possible.
So what would these law changes mean for Böëna the manatee?
The Endangered Species Act is a law passed in the United States in 1973. However, manatees do not understand laws and jurisdictions and where certain protections may or may not apply. They travel freely through the waters when they migrate along coastlines.
West Indian manatees like Böëna migrate far and wide. They can travel up the east coast of the United States, and down the Caribbean coasts of Central and South America all the way to Brazil.
Adult Manatees eat 100 pounds of sea grass a day. This helps keeps waterways clear and healthy for other wildlife. They contribute to the ecosystems of mangroves and seabeds.
Manatees are also known as an indicator species. This means they are very sensitive to environmental changes.
Changes in The Endangered Species Act could impact the manatee’s habitat, and since they are sensitive to change, they could be among the first species to feel a negative effect.
In the future, this may mean that manatees like Böëna could have a harder time migrating up and down coastlines, be subject to more pollution, and may have less grass to eat.
What can you do?
There are some things we can do to help protect animals like manatees and other marine life:
- If you’re in a boat, move slowly along coastlines to avoid collisions with wildlife
- Pick up after yourself when you visit beaches, lakes, and mangroves
- Refrain from dumping pesticides or other chemicals into the water
- Avoid disturbing seagrass or other plant life in the ocean
- If you see an injured animal, notify the appropriate authorities
Böëna is in our care thanks to efforts to save her life when she was spotted struggling in the waves on the Caribbean coast. We hope that she and other manatees will grow up to live in a clean, continuous environment where they can eat, migrate, and reproduce safely.
