It is hard for scientists to know how many West Indian manatees there are. They estimate between 2,000 to 5,000. The West Indian manatee has been listed as an endangered species. This means that the population is so low that the West Indian manatee is in danger of becoming extinct. Many die because of accidents with ships or other human causes, such as pollution. Federal and state laws protect the manatee. Scientists are working to find ways to help the manatee survive. 1. Author’s Perspective - What does the author think about the topic?

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