Join host Jeff Corwin as he connects with some of the most threatened and endangered animals that live underwater. First, Jeff helps conservationists save one of Florida’s most iconic species: the

Join host Jeff Corwin as he connects with some of the most threatened and endangered animals that live underwater. First, Jeff helps conservationists save one of Florida’s most iconic species: the gentle manatee. Later, Jeff comes face to face with a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle - the most endangered sea turtle species on Earth. Finally, Jeff learns about endangered coral reefs and how biologists are racing to save them before it's too late. Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Our quest to connect with imperiled aquatic creatures begins on the pristine waters of the Silver River. Jeff Corwin: Just look how clean the water is here. We can see, in some cases, right to the bottom 20 plus  feet deep. We can see the various fish species milling about, big river turtles and large mouth bass, all of them sharing this vital habitat. Jeff Corwin: I'm here with Liz Neville from Defenders of Wildlife. Their mission is to help protect Florida's wetland wilderness. Jeff Corwin: This is old wild Florida, isn't it? Liz Neville: It is, Jeff. This to me is the reason to come to Florida. It's beautiful. The peace that I feel from being out here is unlike anything else. Jeff Corwin:  The Silver River flows into the mighty Ocklawaha River at the heart of the great Florida Riverway. This vast 217 mile system of rivers and springs flows north from central Florida to the Atlantic Ocean, and it's habitat for countless species, including manatees. Jeff Corwin: Manatees are typically 10 feet long and weighing upwards to a thousand pounds plus. They're curious, slow moving and spend much of their day grazing on sea grass. The greatest long term threat to manatee survival is the loss of warm water habitat. So restoring areas of natural warm water habitat will ensure that manatees will thrive into the future. Jeff Corwin: The beauty about Silver River is that it has a relatively constant temperature. So when we get those very dangerous cold snaps, which happen, here in Florida in winter, manatees can come here and survive. Jeff Corwin: Unfortunately, many manatees are cut off from places like Silver River due to manmade barriers. The Kirkpatrick Dam is a good example. It was built in the 1960s and has obstructed  the large scale migration of manatees ever since. Jeff Corwin: Restoring a free flowing Ocklawaha River will not only give manatees better access to Silver River and Silver Springs, but will also provide them with essential warm water winter habitat in many of Ocklawaha's 20 fresh water springs, which are currently not accessible due to high water levels from the dam. Jeff Corwin: The reality is there are decisions that happened decades ago that are impacting the  environmental integrity of Florida today. Liz Neville: Jeff, it's really about coexistence at the end of the day. So much of the appeal of living in Florida is the beautiful natural environment and the wildlife that we have, so the key to continuing the survival of species and also ensuring a good human quality of life is to work with nature and not against her. Jeff Corwin: The challenges that face Florida's coastline, wetlands, and waterways are a microcosm for our entire planet. Oceans provide us with an abundance of food and oxygen. They're great engines that regulate our climate and remove greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Wetlands act as giant filters that store and clean water. They're also a natural barrier that protect us from winds and tidal forces and provide incredible beauty, and of course, habitat for wildlife. But the watery worlds of our planet are under constant threat and many species, like Florida's iconic manatees, are struggling to survive. Jeff Corwin: In recent years, Florida waterways have seen a dramatic increase in harmful algae blooms. These algae blooms are killing other native vegetation that provide food to manatees and other species. Tragically today, more manatees are dying than any other time in Florida's recorded history. Conservationists are racing to save this keystone species before it's too late. Jeff Corwin: To help respond to the recent increase in manatee disease and mortalities, the US Fish  and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are coordinating a statewide manatee rescue and rehabilitation partnership. One of these partner is the SeaWorld manatee rescue team in Orlando. They recently rehabilitated their 19th manatee this  year, a sick and emaciated female named Avana. Jeff Corwin: Over the last four months, Avana has been recovering nicely. This morning she was transferred to a temporary pool to prepare her for her incredible release back into the wild. Jeff Corwin: Four months ago, she was on death's door. She was emaciated, couldn't even swim. A village came together and rescued her. Today, she goes back to the wild where she belongs... We've hit our character limit. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure to the stunning coast of California to connect with the giants of the sea: elephant seals. Jeff works alongside conservationists fighting to protect

Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure to the stunning coast of California to connect with the giants of the sea: elephant seals. Jeff works alongside conservationists fighting to protect elephant seal habitats, collects important data on elephant seal migration, and helps ensure the next generation of pups are thriving. Jeff learns about the powerful connection between elephant seal mothers and babies and discovers new information about their time in the open ocean. Later, Jeff works to bring three rescued sea lions back to their homes in the wild. Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Today, we're on the coast of the Pacific ocean, near Los Angeles, California, helping conservationists save pinnipeds. Pinnipeds are the group of thin footed aquatic mammals that include seals, sea lions, fur seals, and walruses. Unfortunately, climate change, over fishing, and habitat laws have led to their decline. And other threats like fishing gear entanglements and ingesting plastic are on the rise. Thankfully, places like the Marine Mammal Care Center and organizations like Defenders of Wildlife are fighting to protect and rescue pinnipeds in trouble. This devoted team has given over 8,000 animals, a second chance at survival by providing critical medical treatment. I'm meeting up with hospital director, Dr. Lauren Palmer and Andy Johnson from Defenders of Wildlife. Jeff Corwin: So we have these four characters right here. These are California sea lion pups. Why are they here? What happened? Dr. Lauren Palmer: Well, these animals came in as malnourished pups a couple of months ago. One of these animals consumed this plastic bag. Fortunately, it didn't cause an obstruction. Jeff Corwin: Andy, plastics are a big obstacle to the survival of many animals, including sea lions. Andrew Johnson: They are. I mean, there's so much plastic in the ocean. And when these animals come across it, some of these animals might be starving. They'll ingest it. When these plastics are out there, they degrade in the ocean. The microplastics get into the food of the animal. So even if they don't ingest a bag, they're ingesting fish that has plastic in it. Jeff Corwin: This is a completely solvable problem, isn't it? Andrew Johnson: It's solvable, but we have to reduce our use of plastics, but it's a huge problem that it'll take a long time to fix. Jeff Corwin: But Andy, plastic trash is just one part of the challenge, isn't it? Andrew Johnson: Probably the biggest problem is climate change, so the warming of the oceans changes where the food that these animals need to survive goes. They have to travel farther to find it. And sometimes they starve. And that's why a lot of these animals are here. Jeff Corwin: But the good news, these four rambunctious, little pups were rescued. They're looking like they're ready to go. It's promising that freedom awaits, but we've got to do a little bit of an assessment. Dr. Lauren Palmer: We need to tag them and weigh them, get them out the door. Jeff Corwin: Andy I assist Dr. Palmer hurting these California sea line pumps into a squeeze box. This enclosure keeps the sea line stable and safe without having to anesthetize them. These pups get a quick weight before they're each given a flipper tag. Andrew Johnson: So with sea otters, we use a lot of different types of tags to identify the animal. What's the purpose of these tags with the sea lines? Dr. Lauren Palmer: Well, these tags provide a visual identification. And if the animal is sighted again at another location, then we can keep track of that. We know how far the animal has gone and went. Gives us an idea how well they do Jeff Corwin: These pups are looking healthy. Now it's time for the ultimate payoff. These four pups are going home. Jeff Corwin: Dr. Palmer, this moment right now, what we're about to do, this is what it's all about, isn't it? Dr. Lauren Palmer: It really is. It's a culmination of all the work we do. It's a culmination of the rescue, the rehabilitation, getting the animal better and returning them to their natural home. Jeff Corwin: So Andy, for you, your whole career has been about the conservation of marine mammals. What's this moment mean for you? Andrew Johnson: It's really important to provide actual care for these guys and get them back in the wild. They're extremely important to their ecosystem in the wild. They tell us a lot about that system and how healthy it is. We spend a lot of time doing science, doing all sorts of things, but these opportunities don't come along too often where we can help animals out, get them back in the wild. That's a really good story. Jeff Corwin: It never gets old to see creatures that were on the brink of survival, get a second chance. There ain't no going back there, buddy. Go on. Dr. Lauren Palmer: We're going to go... There you go. There you go. We've hit our character limit. Leave a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure in his home state of Massachusetts. Jeff returns to his roots to help conservationists save a collection of iconic New England wildlife, including an owl ready

Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure in his home state of Massachusetts. Jeff returns to his roots to help conservationists save a collection of iconic New England wildlife, including an owl ready to be released. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Today, we're in my home state of Massachusetts and we're heading to the New England Wildlife Center. The center provides veterinary care to sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife from raccoons to opossums to owls, squirrels, and hawks. The dedicated staff put a lot of time and caring to rehabilitating each animal that comes through their doors. Jeff Corwin: For me, what I love about New England, specifically Massachusetts is that, Lindsay, when it comes to nature, there's so many surprises. I don't think a lot of people give New England the credit it deserves when it comes to amazing wildlife and habitat. Dr. Lindsay Rosa: They don't, Jeff and in fact, growing up here, I always thought it was wonderful I didn't have to go far across the country to a national park to see wildlife. I had bear and bobcat in my backyard.  Jeff Corwin: This is Lindsay Rosa. She's the senior conservation officer with Defenders of Wildlife, and I'm bringing her to one of my most favorite wildlife conservation centers on the planet. It is called the New England Wildlife Center. And I have worked with the New England Wildlife Center since I was about 13 or 14 years old and it has been such a joy for me to watch them grow and thrive. And their success is largely the result of the challenges that they face. Why are we having so many challenges in protecting species today? Dr. Lindsay Rosa:  The more that we continue to grow and spread from cities like Boston, the more we're encroaching into these habitats, which is why conservation comes in so many shapes and sizes and colors now from protecting a plot of land for species to doing some of the great rehabilitation work that's going on at the center. Jeff Corwin: Well, speaking of great rehabilitation work, I think you're going to love what these folks are doing. They're good friends of mine. It's going to be an amazing experience. You ready?  Dr. Lindsay Rosa: I'm ready.  Jeff Corwin: All right, let's go do it. Zachary Mertz: This guy came in about three weeks ago. He was really debilitated, just pretty dazed, stumbling from side to side, which are all hallmarks of lead poisoning.  Jeff Corwin: Did it eat the lead or was it shot?  Zachary Mertz: Very often it's trying to get a meal at the bottom of a pond, at the bottom of a lake and they accidentally eat a fishing sinker, accidentally eat an old shotgun shell. Gregory Mertz: When lead goes in the body, it circulates in the blood and it attaches to the different nerve endings  and as a result causes neurological disease.  Jeff Corwin: Lead poisoning from pollution or contamination, but especially from shotgun shell shot that has lead has had a powerful impact in wildlife, hasn't it? Dr. Lindsay Rosa:  Yeah. In fact, Jeff millions of birds every year are poisoned with lead and it's a big problem to the point that, various countries and states are now taking action and we've noticed changes and even recovery. Jeff Corwin:  So the good news is there are viable alternatives-  Dr. Lindsay Rosa: There are.  Jeff Corwin: ... that work. So what do we need to do today?  Gregory Mertz: What we want to do is get that lead to release. So we add something called calcium EDTA, and that is fairly reactive with lead itself. It will pick it up and allow it to be washed out of the body. Jeff Corwin: In order to continue the healing process the swan gets an injection of calcium EDTA. Swans, they are incredibly resilient. They can survive a dose of lead poisoning that would kill a human being, which is kind of amazing. Jeff Corwin: And finally, after making a full recovery, the swan is released back into the same lake where it was found. We've had an incredible time helping out at the New England Wildlife Center. There's one final animal ready to be released back into the wild, this beautiful barn owl. Lindsay, Greg and I are releasing it into a protected habitat. Jeff Corwin:  Lindsay, why do you think a moment like this is important?  Dr. Lindsay Rosa: This habitat as well as most across the nation, we share it with our wildlife neighbors and really we have to be mindful about what we're doing. We know that lead and rodenticide are poisonous. We all have to keep our wildlife neighbors safe.  Jeff Corwin: You can't protect what you do not love, and you'll never love it if you don't get to meet it and that's why we go in these journeys. So are you ready, Lindsay, to do this? Dr. Lindsay Rosa: I'm ready, Jeff. Jeff Corwin: 3, 2, 1. Oh, there it goes... We hit our character limit. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript!

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