News

Together, we can help protect and advocate for wild manatees in Florida and across the globe.

Suggested Social Media Post: Join us in celebrating International Manatee Day on September 7th! Help raise awareness and protect manatees around the world. #SaveTheManatees #InternationalManateeDay

Photos available upon request.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—September 5, 2024
Contact: media@savethemanatee.org, 407-539-0990

LONGWOOD, FL— Save the Manatee Club is excited to celebrate International Manatee Day on September 7th, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the protection and conservation of manatees worldwide. This year, as communities around the globe recognize the importance of these gentle giants, Save the Manatee Club is urging everyone to take action to protect manatees.

International Manatee Day: A Global Focus on Conservation

International Manatee Day is an opportunity for people to learn more about manatees and the challenges they face, such as habitat loss, boat strikes, and pollution. While manatees are often associated with Florida, they are found in various regions around the world, including the Caribbean, South America, and West Africa. Save the Manatee Club has long been involved in international efforts to protect these iconic aquatic mammals beyond U.S. borders. Through partnerships with local organizations and conservationists, Save the Manatee Club works to support habitat protection, research, and education initiatives in countries where manatees are at risk. By advocating for the protection of manatees on a global scale, the Club is helping to ensure their survival around the world.

One such effort is supporting Wildtracks, a manatee rehabilitation center in Belize, through various means, including collecting and delivering much-needed supplies to aid in the care and recovery of injured and orphaned manatees. Within the past year alone, Save the Manatee Club has sent over $12,000 worth of much-needed supplies to Wildtracks. Also, with big thanks to the unwavering support of manatee supporters, Save the Manatee Club matched a generous $15,000 donation to purchase a truck for the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization in Cameroon to enhance their capacity to protect and study manatees in their community. Monetary support has also been given to the International Foundation for Nature and Sustainability (FINS), located in South America, in the past year to support manatee release and local education efforts, highlighting the importance of community involvement in conservation.

We encourage supporters to help contribute to the efforts of manatee conservation, both in the U.S. and abroad, by donating items from our wish list, which includes essential supplies like equipment and formula, or donating to our Emergency Rescue and International Rescue Funds. You can learn more about Save the Manatee Club’s part in efforts and ways to support the protection of manatees around the world at savethemanatee.org/worldwide.

You Can Get Involved on International Manatee Day

Save the Manatee Club encourages everyone to get involved in this year’s International Manatee Day by spreading awareness and supporting conservation efforts worldwide. Whether you’re near manatee habitat or connecting from across the world, you can make a difference by advocating for policies that protect these aquatic mammals and their habitat and by practicing safe boating. Boaters and paddlers can request packets containing a safety tips card, a waterproof boat banner, and a decal to display on their vessels, providing the number to report manatees in distress. To view and request these materials, visit savethemanatee.org/resources.

Don’t forget to follow Save the Manatee Club on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X, and for more information on how to get involved and tips on manatee-friendly boating practices, visit savethemanatee.org.

###

Save the Manatee Club, established in 1981 by the late renowned singer-songwriter, author, and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett, along with the late former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, is dedicated to safeguarding manatees and preserving their aquatic habitat. For more information about manatees and the Club’s efforts, visit savethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).