While I truly endear most animals, there is a creature I especially adore. Large, gentle, and gray, it gracefully glides through Florida’s springs and streams. This creature is known as the manatee.
Ancient Swimmers
Manatees have had a mystical history based on mermaid lore. Perhaps one can see the very slight resemblance – long torso, paddle-shaped tail, and smooth water agility. With a close familial tie to the elephant, they are highly intelligent grass-feeding herbivores.
Manatees enjoy munching on sea grass, humming along at about 5 miles per hour while performing some light water acrobatics. They can swim up to 20 miles in search of food and/or warmth. Manatees also rest for several hours a day, lying near the top or bottom of the water’s surface.
They Need Our Help
While this lovely creature is truly a friend and no harmful foe, they are in relatively consistent danger within their natural elements. This is mainly due to human interference including watercraft, line entanglement, and flood gate/canal locks. Many manatees bear the painful scars of boat collision and strikes.
Fortunately, there is a fantastic organization which works solely on behalf of saving, studying, and supporting these beautiful animals. Established in 1981, Save the Manatee Club’s mission is to “…ensure a better future for imperiled manatees and their aquatic habitat tomorrow”.
I, myself, am a proud member of this awesome club. I officially adopted a West Indian manatee named Aqua who resides in Blue Spring State Park. She has had five calves since she was first identified in 2011, and I pray that she continues to enjoy a healthy, happy life in Florida’s warm waters!
More To Love
Please support this great group of people, their mission, and of course the magnificent manatee! Let’s make their world a better world, one day at a time. Here are some links if you’d like to know more.
http://youtube.com/adoptamanatee
Florida also hosts several manatee festivals, mainly in January and February of each year. My bucket list certainly calls for attendance of at least one of these awesome festivals. Can’t wait for the day!
Florida Manatee Festival – https://www.gomanateefest.com/
Blue Spring Manatee Festival – https://www.themanateefestival.com/
St. Pete Science Festival – https://stpetescifest.org/
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