Casey DeSantis does not sit on the sidelines as the First Lady of Florida.
She is using her office to make a difference in the Sunshine State.
And Casey DeSantis helped pull off one scary rescue mission that no one saw coming.
Ron DeSantis helping protect Florida’s manatee population
The manatee, a large aquatic mammal, has become one of the unofficial mascots of Florida, along with the alligator.
Once on the verge of extinction in the wild, conservation efforts have led to a rebound in the manatee population.
They face threats from red tide, cold snaps, entanglement, habitat loss, and being struck by boats.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dedicated nearly two billion dollars to improving water quality in the state and another $50 million toward manatee conservation.
These investments have improved artesian springs, where manatee’s travel to seek warmer water for survival during the winter months.
Last year, manatees in Florida had their lowest mortality rate since 2017, in part because of these efforts.
“Florida’s manatee population continues to strengthen because of our record investments in manatee protection programs and water quality improvements,” DeSantis in February at Blue Spring State Park.
On January 22, Blue Springs hit a new record with a count of 932 manatees seeking refuge in the constant 72 degree temperature of the spring run.
This number surpassed the earlier record set on New Year’s Day by 200 manatees.
Casey DeSantis takes part in a manatee release
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis teamed up with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and SeaWorld to help release a rehabilitated manatee named Toast back into the wild at Three Sisters Spring.
Toast was rescued from near the spring in January after suffering from a buoyancy problem.
The injured manatee was taken to SeaWorld Orlando to undergo care and rehabilitation.
DeSantis helped as Toast underwent his final medical evaluation by SeaWorld and FWC before he was released back into the spring.
Today, Mamie and I had the privilege of watching Toast, a 3 year old manatee, get released into Florida’s springs after being nurtured back to health.
Florida has invested billions of dollars to restore and protect our environment. Today was just one heartwarming example of… pic.twitter.com/hzMy9RMi73
— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) April 25, 2024
“It was a joy to be a part of this release and to see a rehabilitated manatee be returned to his home, happy and healthy,” DeSantis said. “I am proud of the work that FWC and their partners, like SeaWorld, do to help these animals when they are in need. The Governor is committed to providing the resources necessary for these gentle sea giants to thrive in Florida’s waterways, and I am happy to see that Florida’s investments are paying off for the manatee population.”
FWC Executive Director Roger Young thanked the Florida Governor for his work to help preserve the manatee population.
“We were delighted to have First Lady Casey DeSantis join us in releasing a rehabilitated manatee back into the wild,” Young said. “Governor DeSantis’ bold leadership in funding manatee protection, habitat restoration, and rehabilitation ensures their sustainability for years to come.”
Ron DeSantis is using a common-sense conservative approach to protecting Florida’s manatee population.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
