Red Tide Kills Several Manatees on Florida's Gulf Coast

Red tide algae is blamed for killing 174 manatees on Florida's Gulf Coast this year, reports Reuters.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, a red tide bloom has been killing 10 or more manatees everyday and this episode will continue for some time.

"This is probably going to be the worst die-off in history," Martine Dewit, a veterinarian with Florida's marine mammal pathology laboratory, said in a news statement.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission consider this is as the highest number of manatee deaths caused by red tide in a single year.

Prior to this, it was in 1996 when the red tide killed 151 manatees in the month of March and April. This year, the count is increasing, as the number recorded on Friday showed that the red tide killed 149 manatees.

Florida manatees have been listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973.  Around 4000-5000 of the manatee population exists in Florida, out of which less than half resides in Southwest Florida.

Nearly 12 manatees have been rescued and are being treated at the manatee rehab hospital at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.

Red tide is a common term used for the harmful algal bloom. When the algae are in high concentration, the color of the water changes from purple to pink, normally being red or green. The manatees die after feeding on the sea grass where the toxins from the blooms generally settle. The grass has the poisonous layering for almost two months.  This not only harms the manatees but also poses a great threat to humans, fishes, shellfish, birds and other marine mammals.

Florida officials are making every effort to save the helpless manatees. They want to save as many of the creatures as possible.