VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — After a devastating year for manatees across the state, Blue Spring State Park remains an oasis for the gentle giants.

“They’re such cool animals, but there’s not as much known about them,” explained Save the Manatee Club’s Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate Cora Berchem.

Berchem has dedicated her life to saving one of Florida's most unique animals.

A passion that began in 2011 after laying eyes on a manatee stuffed animal.

“This morning, we counted 180 manatees.”

Over a thousand of the marine mammals across the state lost their lives in 2020. 

That’s a number she desperately wants to see turned around.

“We’re keeping a close eye on them because the last thing we want to see is something similar to what’s happening in the Indian River lagoon.”

Boat traffic has always been a problem for manatees, but recently a lack of food has hit Florida hard.

To combat the issue, methods like supplemental feeding are being put into place out in Brevard County.

It’s an effort to replace vegetation that may have been previously lost.

Blue Springs has been able to maintain a safe and free environment for the manatees.

“A lot of the submerged aquatic vegetation in St. John’s has died off too which is really concerning to me,” said Berchem. “Luckily, there is still a lot of floating vegetation which the manatees are eating.”

It’s going to take a lot of work to bounce back from last year's record-breaking death rate.

Berchem believes it is possible with the right efforts and work put into place.

“I’m optimistic that hopefully, we can turn this situation around and that this year is going to be better than last year.

So far the season has been promising for the Blue Spring State Park. They’ve already seen over 80 calves with the adult manatees, and that’s a sight they always welcome.

“I mean who wouldn’t like to go into a nice place like this where the water is warm, there’s no predators and there’s no threats."