Florida manatees at risk of starvation eat lettuce in pilot program

Manatees at risk of starvation because native seagrass is dying due to water pollution have for the first time started eating lettuce under an experimental feeding program, Florida wildlife officials said Friday.

The test facility on the east coast's Indian River Lagoon had its first takers of romaine lettuce Thursday, leading more manatees to join in, said Ron Mezich, chief of the effort's provisioning branch at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"We think it's significant," Mezich said in a remote news conference. "When the animals are there, we will continue to offer food and hope they take advantage of that."