Manatee Appreciation Day is observed worldwide every last Wednesday of March to celebrate manatees, also known as sea cows, and to highlight their conservation status and the threats they face. The day was established by the Save the Manatee Club, a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 by singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Florida governor Bob Graham. Activities typically include learning about manatees, symbolically adopting a manatee, donating to conservation organizations, and promoting sustainable lifestyles to protect marine habitats. The day encourages sharing information on social media using hashtags like #ManateeAppreciationDay and #SaveTheManatees. Manatees are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with the Antillean and Florida subspecies listed as endangered.