Adult manatees in Florida are rebounding after a years-long mass die-off in the Indian River Lagoon, where they starved due to a lack of seagrass to eat. But records show record numbers of dead manatee calves in the region this year.
BreakdownGenerated by LeadStory AI
- Manatees have existed for over 40 million years, predating humans.
- A record number of manatee calves have been found dead, many of them stillborn. 19s
- Experts suggest females can get pregnant but may lack sufficient nourishment to maintain pregnancies. 32s
- There may have been a high number of pregnancies this year as females synchronized estrus cycles. 51s
- Researchers hope the number of calf deaths will decrease as manatees' health improves. 1m 4s