3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

Lets Hope this does not point to last weekend ..... :(

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9377324/detail.html


3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns

POSTED: 3:10 pm EDT June 15, 2006
UPDATED: 5:01 pm EDT June 15, 2006

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Wildlife investigators are investigating the deaths of three manatees found floating in the St. Johns River Thursday.

Investigators said the mammals have deep wounds that might have been caused by speeding boats.

Channel 4's Melanie Lawson reported that a fourth manatee was found seriously injured and was being taken to Lyons Club Park.

Environmentalist remain concerned about manatees, especially because the animals were recently removed from Florida's endangered-species list and put on the threaten-species list.

However, boaters are still expected to abide by rules posted in the manatee zone.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an average of 336 manatees died each year in Florida over the last five years. An average of 43, which is 22 percent, of those are the result of watercraft impact.

There were 14 manatees deaths recorded in Duval County last year, four by watercraft.

The FFWCC said the state manatee population is currently at about 3,000.

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

If they were hit by a RECREATIONAL boat that 99.9% of the time has an outboard or an I/O with a SKAG on it, then there would be a deep gash from the SKAG and small 1/2 moon shaped cuts along one side of the Skag cut. If you ever see a Manatee with prop scars, 99.9% of them have VERY LARGE 1/2 moon shaped scars, with NO SKAG cut/gash. That indicates that the Manatee was more than likely hit by a boat that's an inboard driven boat, equipped with a rudder. And just about ALL Commercial barges and tugs are inboards. It doesn't take a rocket scienctist to figure out what type of vessels are hitting Manatees! :mad:
The SJR has a bunch of tug/barge traffic!! :( But the tugs and barges are EXEMPT from Manatee zones regulations!
Dean

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

110 boats running hard, three dead manatees.................I don't think we need CSI on this one because I did see 3 sailboats out there and they must have hit them!

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

Well 2 more were just added back.



Baby, mom manatee back in swim

By JOHN TORRES
FLORIDA TODAY
Enlarge this image

Mother released. A 1,500-pound manatee nicknamed "Cyclone" is released into the Indian River in Titusville. Michael R. Brown, FLORIDA TODAY



WEB EXTRAS

Manatee release
Manatees released in Titusville








TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- After 10 months of lounging and rolling in a SeaWorld swimming pool, a 3-year-old manatee nicknamed "Twister" wasn't quite sure what to do when he was released into the waters of Parrish Park in Titusville.

The 790-pound "baby" stayed 10 feet off shore swimming in and out of dangerous boat ramps. That is, until his mother -- a 1,500-pound manatee nicknamed "Cyclone" -- came to retrieve her calf.

Both manatees were released this morning in a joint effort between SeaWorld's Animal Rescue Team and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It was the second time rescue workers have released "Cyclone" back into the waters.

"This is the best part of the job, watching them swim off where they are supposed to be," said Wayne Grinder, senior animal care specialist for SeaWorld. "We really fattened them up with tons of romaine lettuce. Now they'll have to do a little work for their food."

Ed Neugebauer, supervisor of animal care at SeaWorld Orlando, said great care was taken to make sure the mother and calf maintained their bond. They were even positioned so that they were facing each other and making eye contact during the 45-minute drive from Orlando.

"These are the waters they came from," he said moments after the pair swam away. "They're very familiar with this area and will do just fine. It's a very rewarding cycle."

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

That's not too good.

Sorry to hear that.

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

The Thursday they are talking about is today, 5-6 days after the runs.

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

they had been dead a while ... They were found North of the Arlington Road Boat Ramp ... but that doesn't really mean anything ....one was almost Severed in Half ... one had severe Laserations and one was not too bad ....m

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

Good question, no one really knows, BUT the $MC has convienced the WORLD that Manatees are the brink of exstinction! :mad: And yes, it is sad that 3 Manatees were found dead, BUT once again, NO recreational boat is going nearly slice a Manatee in half. It's the damn tugs and barges that are hitting Manatees!
Dean

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

Just think how many dead fish ya see floating in the water when you are running.I guess a manatee floats when it die's?

I hope the Peta manatee luvers dont read this site :(

Re: 3 Manatees Found Dead In St. Johns ....
 

Of course, it is "sensationalized" by stating "speeding" boats. I would expect a propellor is going to do as much damage when it strikes flesh, whether it is spinning slow or fast. Perhaps some of the "investigators" could experiment by sticking their heads into spinning props, at different RPM's, and compare the results.