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'Manatee girl' named young eco-hero

A 17-year-old's dedication to education about manatees earns her the title of 2006 International Young Eco-Hero.

By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published July 25, 2006

HOMOSASSA - When Dara Shore talks to people in her hometown of Long Island, N.Y., about manatee protection, they usually respond with: "What's a manatee?"

"And that's one more person that gets educated," Shore said.

Shore, 17, became interested in manatee protection when, as a second-grader, she saw manatees during a visit to Sea World. The plight of the water mammals, scarred by boat propellers, touched her heart.

"I was just infuriated" that they were injured so frequently, she said.

Shore acted on her feelings and soon afterward started her own organization, Mission Manatee.

"I give talks to schools and raise money for the Save the Manatee Club," she said. "It's about involvement. We all need to do our part."

She remembers raising $300 in one afternoon.

Shore was recently named 2006 International Young Eco-Hero for her continuing efforts to educate young children about the plight of the manatee. The competition is sponsored by Action for Nature in San Francisco.

She's known as "the Manatee Girl" and wears a treasured manatee T-shirt when she gives her school presentations.

On Sunday, the Manatee Girl met the Manatee Lady, Helen Spivey, co-chairwoman of Save The Manatee Club.

Spivey presented Shore with her Young Eco-Hero award during a ceremony at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

"I've been so looking forward to meeting you," Shore told Spivey.

Spivey praised Shore's commitment to manatee protection and recalled that Shore served as the club's youngest member.

Shore and her family are in Florida for a vacation, and when she returns to New York, she'll continue with her Mission Manatee project.

"Educating people is important, no matter where they live," she said. "There may not be any manatee in New York, but a lot of people have grandparents who live in Florida and own boats.

"So maybe if they hear safe boating advice from their grandchildren, they'll be more likely to listen," Shore said.

Jorge Sanchez covers arts and entertainment in Citrus County. Contact him at sanchez@sptimes.com or 860-7313.

[Last modified July 24, 2006, 20:22:29]