Proposed changes to Endangered Species Act threaten manatees

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In the wild, Florida’s manatees already face threats from cold stress, habitat loss, boat strikes and other human activities.

Now advocates worry about the potential peril that manatees may encounter from the Trump administration’s proposed changes to federal implementation of the Endangered Species Act . Environmentalists say the proposed rollbacks could threaten the lives of sea cows through further habitat degradation, pollution and the adverse effects of development.

“I’ve spent 50-some years trying to get [manatees] to a place where they’re going to be around and they’re going to be a part of a healthy, sustainable ecosystem,” said Pat Rose , executive director of Save the Manatee Club . “If these changes occur, it’s going to be