Hundreds Of Manatees Dying Off The Coast Of Florida

Oh no! Poor manatees!
Off both of Florida’s coasts almost 200 manatees have died due to a red tide!
A red tide is a bloom of algae where microorganisms build up and stain the ocean red, releasing toxins.
These toxins are harmful to fish, manatees and even people.
They attack the nervous system, causing short-term memory loss, paralysis, seizures and then death!!!
A marine mammal biologist said:

“There are indications of the animals being otherwise completely healthy ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ but having died of shock and drowning.”

So it’s actually still a bit of a mystery, because manatees are dying off both coasts and algae bloom is on the Gulf side.
Florida has had one of the worst red tides in year, so hopefully scientists can figure out a way to try and detoxify the water or something.
Or just move all the cutie manatees to our place. We’ll fill the bathtub!
[Image via Wikimedia Commons.]