Manatee Charms Give Back to "Save the Manatee" Club

Did you know manatees were once mistaken for a folkloric creature you've likely seen in a popular Disney movie? In 1493, Christopher Columbus was sailing near the Dominican Republic and saw three manatees that he believed were mermaids. It's silly but also kind of endearing.

As a Florida business owner, Marilyn's well aware of the fact that the majority of manatees are found in "The Sunshine State". However, they're a rare sight this far north, where Apalachicola is located, 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee on the Gulf of Mexico. Seeing one in Apalachicola feels like a special event, but manatees do migrate annually to Wakulla Springs - about 65 miles northeast of Apalachicola - because the water temperature stays warm in the winter months.

Marilyn added a manatee to her charm collection because the animal has earned "unicorn" status due to its rare appearances in the local area. But more simply, they also deserve special care and attention. Although downgraded from endangered to threatened on the Endangered Species List in 2017, they're still considered a threatened species and have to regularly battle obstacles like boats, widespread loss of seagrass (their primary food source), algal bloom outbreaks, and more.

Also, they're just fascinating creatures - from their generous size to their playful mannerisms. Known sometimes as "sea cows" for their seagrass-grazing habits, they're the world's largest herbivores and closely related to elephants.

Jewelry for a Good Cause

It felt like a no-brainer to tie a charitable component to the sale of this charm. Marilyn's just a big fan of manatees overall! She says, "I moved to Apalachicola primarily because of the wildness and remoteness of this place, so protecting that and the creatures inhabiting it is important to me."

Marilyn donates 10% of all manatee charm sales to the Save the Manatee Club, and for every $75 raised, a manatee gets adopted. If you prefer buying jewelry that gives back to animals, then this is an amazing opportunity to purchase something special and support wildlife.

Manatee Charms

In total, we offer five different variations of the iconic manatee charm. You can also opt to purchase the charm on its own or add a chain for a bracelet or necklace. Keep reading for a rundown:

Manatee Charm in Gold - The gold manatee charm is made to order from solid SCS certified recycled 14k gold, so please allow 2 weeks production time in addition to your selected shipping method. You can choose from a large version, measuring 1" long, or a small version, measuring just over a half inch tall.

Manatee Charm in Silver - The silver manatee charm is made from solid SCS certified recycled silver. You can choose from a large version, measuring 1" long, or a small version, measuring just over a half inch tall.

Momma and Baby Manatee Charm Bundle - This charm bundle features both the small and large versions of our gold manatee charm, so you can build your own manatee family on a bracelet or necklace chain. By choosing this bundle, you save.

Save the Manatees

Save the Manatee Club is a nonprofit organization committed to spreading awareness of manatees, including their endangered status, habitat destruction, and other vulnerabilities. Composed of a core group of staff and many volunteers including biologists and educators to folks who just want to help out, it's a passionate and committed group fueled by donations.

Marilyn's most impressed by their community outreach. Their volunteers are boots on the ground, helping to ensure that manatees in need received the care they deserve, including assisting with the state's unprecedented manatee feeding program, especially during the terrible red tide outbreak a couple of years ago. They're also doing amazing work to strengthen environmental protections that benefit these gentle giants (in Florida, any effort to change environmental protections can be an uphill battle).

Why Shop Jewelry That Gives Back to Manatees?

The Save the Manatee Club is doing hard work, and their passion is obvious. There are so many causes to support, and often the sheer number of issues facing us can feel overwhelming. Buying our manatee charms is one way to support the environment while also gaining a shiny reminder of the work that needs to be done.

If you want to learn more about taking action on behalf of the manatees, then you can visit the Save the Manatee Club's "Take Action" page, which recommends some of the following tips:

• Be Fertilizer Free: Nutrient pollution is fueling repeated harmful algal blooms in coastal waters
• Report distressed, sick, injured or dead manatees at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio. You can also download the free FWC Reporter App on your smartphone or tablet.
• Sign a petition and urge Governor DeSantis to restore the Great Florida Riverway.
• …and more.

If you've already purchased a charm, or you simply love manatees, we'd love to see your jewelry and real-life manatee photos! Tag us on Instagram @marilynbroganjewelry.