Manatees Hit Record Numbers After Conservation Efforts | HuffPost

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Manatees Hit Record Numbers, Conservation Efforts Actually Work

Chris Jancelewicz— The Huffington Post Canada

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GUILLAUME SOUVANT via Getty Images

A photo taken on July 19, 2014 shows Mandilo, a baby manatee which was born on April 24, 2014, swimming at the Zoo Parc of Beauval. Mandilo was rescued and bottle fed by trainers for a month until his mother accepted to breastfeed it. AFP PHOTO / GUILLAUME SOUVANT (Photo credit should read GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP/Getty Images)

The gentle giants are back in record numbers.

After years of conservation efforts, the Florida manatee's population has resurged to its highest levels in recent memory with the census finding 6,063 individuals, which is 1,000 more than 2010's census, a considerable leap.

Florida conducts the aerial surveys each year, depending on the weather. Researchers have no way to estimate the number of manatees that aren't visible during the surveys, so the tally is considered a minimum count of Florida's manatee population.

"The high count this year shows that our long-term conservation efforts are working," said Richard Corbett, the commission's chairman.

This year's survey was helped by sunny weather that led manatees to bask at the surface as they crowded into warm waters, said commission biologist Holly Edwards.

A team of 20 observers from 11 organizations counted 3,333 manatees on Florida's east coast and 2,730 on the west coast.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing whether the manatee population has rebounded enough to be reclassified as a threatened species, instead of endangered.

Critics of current boating and fishing restrictions in waters popular with manatees have petitioned the federal government to upgrade the animals' status, citing a 2007 federal review that found the population was recovering.

Florida's manatee population has grown from several hundred animals in 1967, but conservationists say the speed bump-shaped animals remain vulnerable to collisions with boats, cold snaps, water pollution and algae blooms.

The state reported 371 manatee deaths last year, down from a record of 829 in 2013.

With files from The Associated Press

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Save the Manatee Club Adoptees

Margarito(01 of20)

Margarito was named after the Jimmy Buffett song "Margaritaville." He's reportedly very friendly, often giving those in the research canoe a gentle bump to say "hello." He lost his left flipper after become entangled in monofilament fishing line. And Margarito once followed a specialist investigating a deceased manatee, and stayed with him the entire time. (credit:U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project)

Annie(02 of20)

Annie is an endangered West Indian manatee at Blue Spring State Park. She was rescued from the Halifax River near Port Orange, Florida. While rehabilitating at SeaWorld, Annie met another orphaned calf, Rocket. The two have been inseparable ever since.As Wayne Hartley, the Club's Manatee Specialist, put it:"Annie loves people, and Rocket loves Annie." (credit:Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project. Artwork by Nancy Blauers.))

Howie(03 of20)

Howie is notorious for his antics at Blue Spring State Park. He reportedly once knocked into a canoe of researchers dumping the people and their equipment. Now, whenever he sees a canoe, he bolts and issues a distress call, according to caretakers. (credit:U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project)

Georgia(04 of20)

Georgia, who spends her winters in Blue Spring State Park, has had a tough life. As an orphan, she was released into the wild after rebailitaion with fellow manateee Clover, who was supposed to show her how to find food, etc. But Clover soon went rogue and left Georgia on her own.Caretakers also say Georgia's tag sunk underwater, showing puncture signs of a large alligator bite.Despite her woes, Georgia is a character; she once gave a gentle nudge to a swimmer trying to climb a dock ladder and she once swam around with someone's jeans in her mouth. (credit:Patrick M. Rose)

Ariel(05 of20)

Ariel is an endangered West Indian manatee rescued from Lake Worth, rehabilitated at the Miami Seaquarium, and now lives at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.Caretakers say Ariel to a bit too hefty at 2,500, nearly twice the size of an average female mantee. They are trying to help her shed some pounds.Ariel is described as curious, lifting her head out of the water to hear conversations, and playful. She once pushed around a shoe of a park visitor that had fallen into the water. (credit:(Photo courtesy Patrick M. Rose. Artwork by Nancy Blauers.))

Betsy(06 of20)

Betsy is Ariel's sister and shows a similar appetite for life. Caretakers say she holds out on carrots to wait for tastier cookie-like vitamin treats. She also reportedly "smiles" at rangers just like her mother Amanda. (credit:(Photo courtesy William Garvin. Artwork by Nancy Blauers.))

Brutus(07 of20)

According to caretakers, Brutus likes to sleep in, often missing the early morning roll call. Once wake, he's quite social and shows a certain affinity for the female manatees. (credit:(Photo courtesy Walker Stanberry. Artwork by Nancy Blauers.))

Deep Dent(08 of20)

Deep Dent is an endangered West Indian manatee at Blue Spring State Park with a "dent-link" scar from a propeller wound on his head. A tad on the shy side, Deep Dent is also known for his wanderlust. (credit:(Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project. Artwork by Nancy Blauers.))

Doc(09 of20)

Doc has his winter home at Blue Spring State Park. He's something of a ladies manatee, caretakers reports, often coupling with fellow adoptee Phyllis although he's also been spotted with Dana, Lily, and Lucille. Don't hate the player, hate the game.Caretakers also say he's protective of manatee recovering from injuries. (credit:Walker Stanerry)

Elaine(10 of20)

At home in Blue Spring State Park, Elaine sadly lost two brothers to boat injuries and her mother Emma to unknown causes. She also lost a calf to a boat but now has 4 known calves and 8 grand-calves. (credit:U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project)

Elsie(11 of20)

Elsie is known by the nickname 'Fingers' because her tail was mangle in a boat accident and now resembles a human hand. She has five known calves. (credit:Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

Flash(12 of20)

Flash is one of the first manatees to arrive at Blue Springs State Park for the winter. He earned his name, caretakers say, because he is quick to startle and will swim away "in a flash" if disturbed. (credit:U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project)

Flicker(13 of20)

This manatee got her name due to the scars on her back that resemble a flickering candle. (credit:Florida Department Of Environmental Protection)

Floyd(14 of20)

Floyd only has half a tail after a boat strike. Caretakers note he is playful; he sometimes gives researchers a little nudge from behind, pushing them out of the water.He even nudges himself into other manatees in front of cameras. (credit:Walker Stanberry)

Lily(15 of20)

Lily, who makes her winter home at Blue Spring State Park, often nurses orphaned calves. She even became a foster mother to a cold-stressed young calf named Foster. (credit:Walker Stanberry)

Lorelei(16 of20)

Lorelei was the first manatee ever born and bred in captivity. She was born at the Miami Seaquarium to parents Romeo and Juliet. She reportedly does tricks like barrel rolls when accepting nutritional treats. (credit:Save The Manatees)

Robin(17 of20)

Robin is the son of a manatee named Wonder Woman, and he shows some superhero-like courage as well. Caretakers report that when a group of manatees was startled by a loud noise, Robin could be seen calm in the middle of them, working his way back upstream. (credit:Walker Stanberry)

Rosie(18 of20)

Rosie is a big manatee, weighing 2,500 pounds. Nicknamed "the babysitter" of Homosassa Springs, she is known for being gentle, kind, and maternal. She is also known for hogging the "Manatee Salad Bar," where the park's manatees feed. (credit:William Garvin)

Squeaky(19 of20)

Squeaky was just born in 2011, and still stays close to mom Amber. Researchers once caught Squeaky trying to scratch her belly on the bottom of a canoe. (credit:Save The Manatees)

Vector(20 of20)

Vector got his name because of the large triangular-shaped scar on the right side of his body. He spends his winters cozied up in waters near Tampa Bay's Tampa Electric power plant. (credit:Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

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