Florida manatee deaths up 20% as Covid-19 threatens recovery

Unsafe boating activity, delays to environmental projects and changes in public policy are putting the gentle giants at risk

The apparent environmental upside of Covid-19, such as lower pollution and emissions, isn't all it's cracked up to be. Just ask manatee conservationists in Florida.

Keeping this threatened species safe has increasingly been an uphill battle - especially since manatees were controversially downgraded from endangered" in 2017. But conservationists are facing unexpected challenges in the face of coronavirus. So far, the pandemic has led to more unsafe boating activity, delays to environmental project launches and even changes in public policy - none of which favor these gentle giants.