Give the BIGGEST Easter Surprise of All!
By Janice Nearing

Flash back to Easter morning, 2008 ‹ Mariah and Mackenzie McNair from Michigan marvel at the manatee gift adoptions their grandmother, Linda Young, has sent to each of them from Florida. "It's not something everyone has," explained Linda as to why she chose to adopt manatees for her granddaughters last Easter.

Linda selected two female manatees who frequent the Tampa Bay area, Ginger and Flicker, from Save the Manatee Club's Adopt-A-Manatee® program. "Both manatees had calves, which the girls really liked," she said.  

Manatee mortality data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows a total of 337 manatee deaths in 2008. The manatee population is around 3,800. Last year had the third highest number of manatee deaths from boat strikes (90 manatees) since record-keeping began.  "With the number of manatee deaths from watercraft so high, it is imperative we do all we can to protect the places that are crucial to the manatee's very survival," said Patrick Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club.

There are 32 real live manatees to choose from in the Club's three Florida Adopt-A-Manatee® program locations which include Blue Spring State Park near Orange City, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa, and in the Tampa Bay area.

Funds from Save the Manatee Club's gift adoptions help support ongoing efforts to increase public awareness and education and to aid with manatee research, rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and advocacy and legal action. Legendary Jimmy Buffett co-founded Save the Manatee Club, a national non-profit advocacy organization in 1981, along with former Florida Governor and U.S Senator, Bob Graham. 

The $25 tax-deductible gift adoptions include an adoption certificate with a color photo of a real, live Florida manatee, biography, membership handbook, a subscription to the Club's official quarterly newsletter, The Manatee Zone, with updates on the manatee adoptees, and the bi-monthly e-newsletter, Paddle Tales. Or for $35, each new member who joins the Adopt-A-Manatee® program online also receives a plush manatee. And shipping is free.  

This year, say "Happy Easter" with a real live manatee adoption.

Contact Save the Manatee Club at 500 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751, call (800) 432-JOIN (5646), or visit www.savethemanatee.org. Learn more about manatees, sign up for the Club's free E-Newsletter, and check out their online gift catalog.