The manatee is a large marine mammal that lives in springs, rivers and shallow coastal inlets, including around Florida. Humans are the only serious threat to them and recent years have been difficult, with many animals killed in boat collisions and due to debris. Now, in addition, eutrophication in the sea is threatening their food, seaweed, so as an emergency measure they have started feeding manatees in the most vulnerable place.
More than a thousand sea cows have died in Florida this year, many of them starving to death due to environmental degradation. Now a previously completely unthinkable measure is being considered – feeding the wild mammals with cabbage and lettuce in order for them to survive the winter
