As a youngster growing up in Florida, Stronski saw manatees a few times, but heard very little about their plight. The Manatee Club last summer gave her a much deeper appreciation of one of Florida s most endangered species. I have always had a love for animals, so the internship seemed like the right thing to do, Stronski said. It gave me the opportunity to work for an organization that was doing something really good really positive. Stronski spent the working at various events and educating the public about the species.
Education is the primary goal for the organization.
To help educate Floridians about the animal, Stronski is taking the manatee message to people throughout Central Florida, presenting slide shows in various elementary schools and churches. There is much legislation in the works for more improved laws to protect the manatee, Stronski said. More manatees were killed in 1999 than in any other year, and figures show that 2000 could be even worse. We really need to educate people before this wonderful treasure is gone forever. Technology in the Year 2000 had a good reason to pay attention in class.