Florida will begin emergency feeding and rescue of starving manatees

Record numbers of endangered manatees are dying as polluted waters kill off their food sources

Florida wildlife officials will undertake a manatee feeding and rescue operation involving hand-feeding the mammals romaine lettuce, amid unprecedented mortality among the gentle aquatic creatures affectionately known as sea cows".

Typically, manatees return to warm water winter feeding grounds, where they feast on plentiful seagrass.