Serious concern for Florida manatees

Who Else Wants To Help Save The 3,200 That Occupy The Florida Coast?

American Tourism, Leisure Water Activities, and the Fishing Industry are the Main Causes of the Decline of Manatees.

PLEASE see the bottom of this page on how you can help the gentle manatee.

Oct 21, 2008 – Indian Rocks Beach –
Many public awareness campaigns, research and educational programs, and lobbying groups help protect manatees. Approximately 3,200 occupy the southeastern portion of US coastal waters, yet as many as 100 die each year.

American Tourism plays a vital role in manatees becoming endangered species. With Florida as one of the largest vacation spots in the country, manatees are losing their natural habitats from red tide, the destruction of marine grass and chemical pollution from runoff.

Additionally, with Americans continually rushing even during leisurely activities such as jetting on large yachts, partying on fast speedboats, and jet skiers zipping through the waterways resulting in collisions, we can only expect manatees to become endangered.

Manatees have also become endangered because of large fishing boats and entanglement in fishing lines.

To help raise public awareness on the Florida manatees, Indian Rocks Beach artist, Karen Justice created a hilarious greeting card line. The designs contain vividly bright colors and were created in warm, tropical settings. Deep blues, vibrant yellows, and flirty pinks are the signature colors Karen uses. Light-hearted, warm, and clever sayings are splashed across each one of her designs. Because the designs are innovative and unique, she has become one of the most influential artists of her time.

Karen is an advocate of animal rights and is strongly committed to the preservation of manatees.

Now, relax with a cup of coffee and visit the www.wildjunglechick.com website. Soak in the beautiful colors of each card and laugh at the manatee designs. The relaxation and laughter felt after viewing her designs is her mission.

Coming soon to the website is the chicken's blog. It will include a Q&A on a variety of topics. Join the chicken's world by visiting www.wildjunglechick.com

# # # # # #

Greeting Cards, magnets, and prints sold via online to wholesalers, a retail store in Indian Rocks Beach, and an online retail site coming soon.

*****************************************************************************************************************
ALERT!
Despite exploding human population growth and shrinking aquatic habitat in Florida, manatees will lose their protections as a federal endangered species under a new plan prepared by the Bush administration.

You can help! Send a quick online letter to decision-makers letting them know you strongly oppose the manatee’s downlisting at this time. http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5215/t/3138/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=491


PLEASE BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS!

http://www.savethemanatee.org/
http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/Manatees/manatees.html