February 25, 2026
Andrea Powell

Puerto Rican Antillean manatees are critically endangered with less than 700 remaining in the wild. One of the largest and growing threats they face is watercraft strikes.

Each year, speeding boats and Jet Skis in shallow, coastal waters cause significant manatee deaths. Deaths of mama manatees also endangers their orphaned calves left behind to fend for themselves, like Taiku and Dakiti.

Photo: Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center

Taiku was just four days old when she was found clinging to the body of her deceased mother who was struck and killed by a Jet Ski. Dakiti was found orphaned just a few days later and rescued just in time. 

Photo: Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center

The orphaned calves were taken in by Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center to get the care and treatment they needed to survive. 

They were immediately started on bottle feeding and veterinary care. Saving these young manatees requires a lot of time and resources. The process involves feeding every few hours, growth monitoring and gradual introduction of saltwater and seagrass to mimic their natural environment. 

Photo: Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center

Thanks to amazing care, Taiku and Dakiti grew stronger each day and after three years of rehabilitation are ready to return to the wild. Tracking belts will be placed on them to monitor their safety and movement their first year in the wild.

Staff urge boaters to please watch for manatees and asks them to, “Navigate slowly near the shore and in manatee habitats. Wear polarized glasses to spot manatees. If you see a manatee, slow down, avoid creating waves, and give it space. Always respect posted speed limits of 5 knots or less in nearshore areas. Together, we can prevent tragedies like Taiku’s and give these gentle giants a chance to survive.”

Photo: Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center

Injured and orphaned manatees continue to arrive in need of care. Manatee rehabilitation programs have a 96% success rate, meaning your support can make a powerful impact in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing manatees back into the wild.

Donate now to provide the food, veterinary care, tracking, and research needed to protect endangered manatees like Taiku and Dakiti.

Andrea Powell

Andrea Powell is an animal enthusiast who resides in West Michigan. When not writing, she is exploring the great outdoors with her dogs and horses.

Read more articles by Andrea Powell.

As some of you may already know, I like to obsess.

My current obsession is rugs.  Today we swapped all the Shetland ponies’ (Vitamin, Fivla and Tiddles) rugs for dry rugs and I thought to myself that if I hadn’t got Floss with me, it would’ve been very hard work.  The ponies’ rugs were wet through and I don’t like that. So much for waterproof.

Meanwhile all the Icelandics were totally dry underneath their rugs. They are wearing very expensive Rambo high neck 0g turnout rugs.

My back is not getting better. In fact, I can now add brachyalgia (arm “sciatica”) to my list.  I need my life to be easier. I can’t keep nipping out to change rugs because the old horses/ponies and Tiddles are soaked through.  I need to know that the rugs they have on are keeping them 100% dry so they can keep warm and I won’t worry.

I told this to Tiddles and he agreed.

Tiddles is good with rugs.  He does his very best and  I honestly think it is the way forward for him in winter – he has equine metabolic syndrome. Think Type II diabetes.

(and there’s nothing wrong with Newt, though he would love a “dressing gown”)

Pretty please (sorry, no my little fat boy).

Tiddles’ rug is not ideal – I like high necks too.  Tiddles gets wet shoulders.

A high neck allows for freedom and just that extra bit of protection.  I am not a fan of full necks.

So I costed the rugs I want to buy for Fivla, Vitamin and Tiddles and it came to over £1,000 (two rugs each – 0g and 100g high neck Rambo).

And the thing is, and I know this sounds awful but realistic, but what if Fivla and Vitamin don’t make it to winter – they are very, very ancient……. and every day is extra.

Feeling a little sick and wondering what to do, I went into my shed and made another sheep.

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If you fly drones in the US, especially for photography or video work, the legal fight between DJI and US regulators could shape what equipment you can buy next. 

According to a report by The Verge, DJI has filed a lawsuit challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to block the import of new DJI drones and components, arguing that the agency overstepped its legal authority and caused serious harm to both the company and its customers.

The lawsuit follows a December decision by the FCC to expand its so-called Covered List to include drones and drone components made in foreign countries. The list is intended to restrict communications equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security. 

As reported by The Verge, DJI says this move effectively bans new DJI drones from entering the US unless they receive approval from the Department of Defense.

What the FCC Decided

According to The Verge, the FCC’s decision did more than just stop future imports. The agency also gave itself the authority to retroactively block equipment that had previously been allowed into the country. 

That means drones and components already approved could potentially be restricted later, opening the door to a much broader crackdown on foreign made drone technology.

For DJI, this represents a major shift in how the US government regulates drones. The company argues that the FCC’s authority traditionally covers communications equipment, not entire drone systems. 

DJI claims that by adding foreign made drones to the Covered List, the FCC exceeded the limits set by Congress.

DJI’s Legal Argument

In its petition filed with a federal appeals court, DJI asks the court to vacate and block the FCC’s decision and declare it unlawful. 

According to The Verge, DJI argues that the FCC exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Fifth Amendment, which protects against deprivation of property without due process.

DJI also claims the decision has severely harmed its business in the US. 

In a statement cited by Reuters and referenced by The Verge, the company said the FCC’s action carelessly restricts DJI’s US operations and denies American customers access to its latest drone technology.

Why This Matters to Drone Photographers

DJI dominates the consumer and professional drone market in the US. For many photographers, filmmakers, surveyors, and inspectors, DJI drones are not just tools but the backbone of their workflows.

If the import ban remains in place, you may see fewer new models available, delayed product launches, or limited access to replacement parts. According to The Verge, the FCC’s move could also create uncertainty for people who already own DJI drones, especially if retroactive restrictions are enforced.

While the current action focuses on imports, the broader regulatory authority claimed by the FCC could affect future approvals, firmware updates, and compatibility with US based communication systems.

Broader Context Around DJI and US Regulation

This lawsuit comes after years of scrutiny of Chinese technology companies by US regulators. DJI has previously faced restrictions from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense, including limits on government use of its drones.

According to The Verge, the FCC’s decision represents one of the most aggressive regulatory steps yet, because it shifts power away from individual agencies and places import control directly in the hands of a communications regulator.

The FCC has argued that drones equipped with advanced radios and data links fall under its jurisdiction, especially when national security concerns are raised. DJI disputes this interpretation, saying it stretches the law beyond its original intent.

What Happens Next

The court will now review DJI’s petition and determine whether the FCC acted within its legal authority. The outcome could take months and may be appealed further, depending on the ruling.

For now, DJI drones already in the US remain legal to own and operate. The case is focused on imports, not on grounding existing aircraft. Still, uncertainty around future availability may influence purchasing decisions if you are planning to upgrade or expand your drone fleet.

As The Verge reports, the lawsuit highlights growing tension between national security policy and access to consumer technology. For drone users, the result could shape the tools you are able to fly in the years ahead.

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Even if you’re not into sports, you’d have to be keeping well clear of the headlines to have not heard about the 2026 Olympic Games team event gold medalist, two-time World champion, three-time Grand Prix Final champion, seven-time Grand Prix gold medalist, four-time Challenger Series gold medalist, and four-time U.S. national champion American figure skater, Ilia Malinin. Nicknamed the ‘Quad God’ for his unrivalled ability to perform the extremely difficult and dangerous quadruple axel, something no other figure skater has been able to achieve in an international competition – ever – Malinin recently let slip that the secret sauce is to embrace feline energy.

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Always Land On Your Feet

Despite being the clear favorite heading into the men’s individual event, Malinin missed out on a spot on the podium after suffering two falls during his routine. The disappointment has highlighted the immense pressure faced by elite athletes, particularly when carrying the weight of such high expectations. But rather than shy away from this painful aspect of competition, Malinin has used his social media platform to share and reflect, raising awareness about the effects of fame, success, and the inevitable crash that accompany them, on mental health, teasing the release of a video on February 21st that will tackle these issues.

In a recent interview, he told CBS News Correspondent  @jonathanvigliotti that the trick to his success in his sport lies in making it look easy.

“The best way to land is like a cat landing, like really softly, and being able to kind of transfer that weight from all the way spinning up here to kind of make it look like that it’s so easy – so effortlessly.”

When he’s not defying gravity on the ice, Malinin is just like any 21-year-old, enjoying video games, skateboarding, parkour, and art. He is also a self-proclaimed ‘cat dad’ to Mysti and Miu Miu, who joined his family in July 2025. With Malinin’s star shining brighter than ever, photos emerged this week of one of his beloved kitties sporting a gold medal and a heart-melting dedication from the figure skater, with many claiming it was Malinin’s Olympic medal. However, contrary to what some would have you believe, Mysti has not accompanied her human caretaker to Milan, Italy, and the impressive bit of bling around her neck is not from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

While the image above has been widely credited to Malinin’s Instagram account (@ilia_quadg0d_malinin), it does not appear on the athlete’s feed, nor is the medal pictured from this year’s Winter Olympics, so we believe this is actually from a previous competition. However, the sentiment is still a wholesome and lovable one, and we are certain that Mysti deserves every ounce of recognition headed her way! We hope that this Quad God and his QuadCats will continue to land on their feet.

Feature Image Credit: NBC Sports 

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