More baby manatees are dying this year. FWC says this is “not necessarily bad news”

So far this year, more perinatal manatees, or baby manatees, have been found dead than in the previous five years. according to preliminary data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Since 2019, an average of 70 of all manatee deaths recorded in Florida have been perinatal, meaning the carcasses are less than 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. So far in 2024, 130 of the 435 manatee deaths have been perinatal: that’s about 30%, based on preliminary FWC data through August 23.

But “this is not necessarily bad news,” says Martine de Wit, a veterinarian at FWC who leads the agency’s research program on manatee health. In fact, the numbers underscore an important, positive point: More manatee babies are being born after Famine Event 2021 killed manatees in record numbers.

“The females stopped reproducing and we hardly had any calves,” said de Wit. “So the fact that we have seen no or very few deaths in recent years was not a good sign.”

Conversely, the fact that we are seeing these dead manatee calves could be a good sign that the manatees are starting to reproduce again,” said de Wit.

So far, most of the dead calves found this year appear to be stillborn. This is good news because it does not mean that the manatees’ health is at risk from emerging diseases.

“We have no worrying trends that would Extra Threat to the health of manatees,” said de Wit.

Another hopeful sign, de Wit said, is that the FWC is also seeing many living manatee calves in the wild. And there weren’t many orphaned calves found in the necropsies.

“I think it’s good news that once the animals are born and survive, the females seem to be able to care for their calves,” said de Wit. “But as the calves get older, that’s something we want to keep a close eye on.”

FWC experts still believe that the mass starvation of manatees in 2021 and the resulting mortality will have long-term health consequences.

“We just have to wait and see how this develops in the next few years,” said de Wit. “But at the moment I believe it is a sign that the manatees’ reproduction is increasing again.”

Anyone who sees a lone baby manatee or other manatee in distress can report the sighting to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-3922.

Copyright 2024 Central Florida Public Media