A couple of hours ago, ViralHog released a “cute video” of some tourists giving a manatee some water. This is actually both not good for the animal, and is a federal crime.
PLEASE DO NOT BOTHER THE MANATEES!! HERE’S WHY:
Here’s the video in question. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ftXc8XAHniM?feature=share
Manatees are especially vulnerable because they have no predators. They’re too big for other predatory animals to bother with them.
Because of this, manateees don’t see things as threats like other animals do. They certainly get startled, and will move away from something they are afraid of. But they don’t have as intense of a “fight/flight” response. They see a human, they go to investigate. They don’t bite, or snarl, or show any aggression.
If you give this non-aggressive WILD animal love and affection, they will associate humans with goodness, and more dangerously, will associate BOATS with goodness (because humans are on them).
You can read more about that here: https://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/viewing-guidelines/
This is why it is very important that we do not bother the manatees. They are dying very quickly now.
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Link: https://environmentamerica.org/blogs/environment-america-blog/ame/one-worst-years-manatees-ever
Manatees get struck by boat propellers frequently. If they survive the collision, they could still die from the wound getting infected.
Manatees + boats = tragedy
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Bottom Image: https://www.thedodo.com/boats-injure-florida-manatees-2368810374.html
The government does not fuck around when it comes to manatee protection. They don’t care if that Facebook photo is two weeks old – they will find you, and they will arrest you.
Your ass will go to jail. Don’t pass go, and if you collect $200, you’ll immediately be paying that AND some in the $500+ fine.
Article about four young people picture: https://cbs12.com/news/local/fwc-investigating-photo-of-people-touching-a-manatee
Smithsonian article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/touch-a-manatee-spend-six-months-in-jail-24670630/
The best thing to do if you encounter a manatee in distress, is to call for expert help! There’s a hotline dedicated to the rescue of manatees!
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https://myfwc.com/research/manatee/information/support/contact/
Manatee gonna manatee, let’s just watch them be manatees from a distance!