Several new manatee webcams have just gone live, broadcast thing from Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Florida. The webcams are the work of the Save the Manatee Club, an award-winning nonprofit organization centered around the conservation of manatees.
Manatees, also known as sea cows, are aquatic mammals, measuring up to 4 metres long and weighing as much is 590 kg. Currently, all three species of manatee are considered to be endangered, largely due to human activity.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released figures suggesting that 453 manatees died in 2011, which includes 88 that got hit by a boat and 112 that died from the cold. This is a high figure when you consider that in Florida there are thought to be around 5000 manatees overall.
One manatee is enjoying swimming next to some stairs. And no, I'm not sure why they put those stairs there.
They have installed all manner of webcams, both above and below water, giving anyone the opportunity to see these rare mammals up-close in their natural habitat. It is hoped the webcams will raise public awareness about their plight, and thereby help protect the manatee from extinction.
You can check out the live manatee webcams here. You can also check recorded footage from the webcam here.
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