Endangered Sawfish Dies Despite Rescue Efforts in Florida

A distressed sawfish rescued from the Florida Keys succumbs after intensive care, highlighting challenges in marine wildlife rehabilitation.

The sawfish was euthanized at Mote Marine Laboratory due to deteriorating health after being found swimming erratically.
Scientists are investigating a series of unusual fish behaviors and deaths in the Keys, with no definitive cause yet identified.
Environmental factors such as toxins, pathogens, and water conditions have been ruled out in the ongoing investigation.
This incident underscores the vulnerability of sawfish, a species already critically endangered and confined largely to southwestern Florida.
Efforts continue to determine the factors behind the abnormal behaviors, with climate change and harmful algal blooms under scrutiny.