By Julio-Cesar Chavez

(Reuters) – Florida officials have confirmed that starving manatees would soon receive hand food in Florida. This rare intervention will save these marine mammals from pollution.

“Unified Command does have approval to move forward on a limited feeding trial,” said Carly Jones of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in an email to Reuters ahead of a formal announcement later this week. “Details are still being worked out.”

Federal authorities have authorized the move. This is a rare conservation practice that favors wild animals foraging and hunting on their own rather than becoming dependent on humans.

However, manatees are in serious trouble for 2021. 1,017 dead animals have been found so far. With less than 8,000 remaining in Florida, the gentle herbivores also called “sea cattles” are threatened.

According to scientists, they’re starving due to the nitrogen-polluted runoff from agricultural land and sewage. The nitrogen fuels the growth of algae, which then smothers and kills coastal seagrass – the manatees’ main food in their winter grounds.

Wildlife experts can feed the manatees romaine lettuce, cabbage and other vegetables during the trials feedings. This is the same food that captive manatees eat in captivity, according to Patrick Rose (marine biologist, Save the Manatee Club).

“The idea behind this experimental supplemental feeding … is that you can give them just enough more food that they can get them through this winter time,” Rose said. “The longer this is delayed, the less likely it can be successful.”

Jones stated that the private property will be used for trial feeding once the timing has been determined.

The public cannot continue to feed manatees.