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Story summary
- On March 5, 2026, a mother manatee and her calf were rescued in Southwest Florida after the mother was struck by a propeller more than 20 times.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) coordinated the rescue with the Cape Coral Police Department.
- This follows at least 30 manatee deaths in the Orange River, highlighting watercraft collisions as a 20–25% mortality factor.
- FWC estimates 8,000–12,000 manatees inhabit Florida waters.
