Manatee Emoji? Florida Zoo Fights for the Cause

TAMPA, FL — Cats, dogs, elephants and tigers all have their own emojis. Why not manatees?

That’s the question Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is posing as November’s Manatee Awareness Month continues. It seems the lovable creatures that are as synonymous with Florida as sunshine and beaches just haven’t been considered by the folks who regulate the coding for emojis. The zoo is hoping to change that with a petition drive meant to capture the attention of Unicode, the nonprofit that oversees the universal coding for emojis.

Emojis are the cartoon-like images often used in computer-based communications, such as those smiley faces that pop up on Facebook and other social media sites. The caricatures have been created for all sorts of animals, but manatees just haven’t made the cut.

There are plenty of reasons why they should, the zoo’s petition drive on Change.org asserts. “Not only are they adored mammals, they are also threatened,” zoo officials explained. “By creating an emoji, we are making it easier for people to think about and share their love for these gentle giants.”

See also: Manatee Appreciation Day 2016: 5 Facts About the Critters

The petition drive was launched earlier this month with the intention of gaining 25,000 signatures to forward on to Unicode. As of Friday, the goal had been exceeded, but the drive remained open for more supporters to add their voices to the call for action.

November has been recognized as Manatee Awareness Month in the state of Florida since 2005. Manatees are so special to Florida, in fact, they also have their own “Manatee Appreciation Day” each year in March.

Florida is home to an estimated 6,250 manatees. The creatures typically grow between 9 and 10 feet long and weigh around 1,000 pounds as adults. Native to the Sunshine State, manatees are found in bodies of water throughout Florida.

Protected by state and federal laws, manatees were named Florida’s official state marine mammal in 1975, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That organization is responsible for overseeing an annual population survey. The 2016 count, conducted earlier this year, showed record-breaking numbers. The agency said a team of 16 observers from 11 different organizations counted 3,292 manatees on the state’s east coast and 2,958 on the west coast.

To help support Lowry Park Zoo’s efforts to gain a manatee emoji, check out the petition on Change.org.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission