The move to remove the manatees from the list of endangered species is said to be a "success story." This is contrary to conservationists' claim that it would just weaken the protection of the humongous sea animal.

Also known as a sea cow, the giant marine mammal has been taken out of the list of endangered species of the US Interior Department following an increase in its population. Efforts for the preservation of the animal have been in place for 30 years. As a result, its number grew to 6,600 in Florida, a huge leap from a few hundred listed during the '70s. 

While conservationists have reportedly tagged the move as something unwelcome, some other sector has considered it as something to be proud of.

"We consider this a success story," Phil Kloer, the department's Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman said about the lifting of the manatees from the list endangered animals. "It has been doing very well, it has been coming back."

The conservation efforts, which have been done by the US government together with the Caribbean countries and environmentalists, will continue, the Interior Department has emphasized.

Meanwhile, Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club Florida chapter director, said that this development might just send a different signal to the boaters. This would, accordingly, endanger the life of the manatees. In 2016, 520 manatee deaths were reported. Of this figure, 104 were caused by watercraft.

"Florida boaters are going to take this as a signal that they can increase their speed in manatee," Jackalone said.

In the meantime, Jim Kurth, US Fish and Wildlife Service's acting director, has recognized the fact that amid the US Interior Department's move, more preservation efforts still have to be carried out to continuously preserve the manatees' existence.

"While there is still more work to be done to fully recover manatee populations, particularly in the Caribbean, manatee numbers are increasing and we are actively working with partners to address threats," Kruth said on the initiatives to sustain the conservation of the manatees.