Save the Manatees: Insights from the Front Lines

Join us for an inspiring evening with a presentation about Manatees!

Our Guest Speaker will be Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate for Save the Manatee Club.

The Public is invited. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, allowing ample time for mingling before the meeting commences.

Come learn about the gentle giants of Florida's waters! Cora Berchem will share her expertise on Florida manatees, with a special focus on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL)—a year-round critical habitat that has faced serious challenges from an unusual mortality event (UME) in recent years.
In her presentation, we'll explore:

• How manatees rely on the IRL

• The causes behind the UME

• Mitigation efforts and progress made

• Ongoing projects and the current status of manatee recovery

We'll also look at manatees in the St. Johns River, including record-breaking numbers observed at Blue Spring State Park in recent years.

About our Speaker
Originally from Bonn, Germany, Cora moved to the U.S. in 2002. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from The College of New Jersey, an M.A. in Film and Media from J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt, and a graduate certificate in Aquatic Animal Health and Conservation from the University of Florida (2021).

After a career in film and television in New York City, she became passionate about manatees in 2013 while producing a documentary on them. Today, she manages Save the Manatee Club's live webcams, social media, video projects, and assists with research at Blue Spring State Park alongside Wayne Hartley. She also helps oversee the Blue Spring Manatee Volunteer Observer Program and volunteers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manatee team. In her free time, Cora enjoys traveling, running, photography, and scuba diving.

Whether you're a longtime environmental advocate or just curious about these amazing marine mammals, join us to learn, connect, and support efforts to protect Florida's manatees and their habitats.
No registration required—just show up!

For more about the Turtle Coast Sierra Club, visit turtlecoast.org.
Let's come together to celebrate and safeguard these iconic Florida treasures. See you there!

We meet at the Unitarian Universalist Friendship Fellowship, located at 3115 Friendship Pl · Rockledge, FL. Our presentation begins at 7pm on Thursday, February 26th!