Manatee death toll in past dozen years equals current population

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s 7,444 recorded manatees deaths in the last dozen years nearly matches the number thought to be surviving today. In 2010, state officials tallied 766 mortalities, topping 500 in a year for the first time since records began nearly 50 years ago. Since then, most years have seen counts above 500, including last year’s record 1,101. So far this year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has reported 661 deaths, which already marks the fourth deadliest year on record. Patrick Rose, Save the Manatee Club executive director, said the acceleration of mortality statistics ...