I have an incredible affection for all marine life, but there is something about the manatee that really intrigues me! I had heard about their calm demeanor, they are vegetarians, and...unfortunately, they are an endangered species.
In the spirit of education I took my daughter on an excursion to "Swim with the Manatees". I thought it would be a dream come true! We booked well in advance, arrived full of excitement, got suited up and off we went. Our guides seemed knowledgeable and dedicated. They insisted that we listen to all the rules regarding our interactions with these gentle giants. I can say in all honesty that they made every effort to educate us, to protect the animals, and ensure that our actions would not alter "their natural behavior in any way".
BUT...
There were so many people, so many boats, all descending on an "unusually small number" of animals as the weather was unseasonably warm.
I should have done more research. I thought it would be like swimming with the dolphins. I have done that...in the open ocean. The animals could quickly evacuate the area if they were irritated and so, I had no idea how claustrophobic this would feel.
On this trip, it took over an hour to find one lone animal. When the boat finally stopped we all eased into the river.
I did not chase the manatee. I floated in a spot far from the others hoping it would come to me. Because of that I didn't see it in the water. I watched the humans instead. All of them seemed to be enthralled, they swam in a group, giggled, kicked up mud, and called to their kids to come look.
Again, I want to be perfectly clear that our tour operator watched us VERY carefully and shouted out reminders of the rules from the boat. My fellow explorers (based on our conversations) all seemed to very nice people with a healthy respect for the environment, the animals they came to see, and the "rules"...but there is absolutely no way, that I can say, our human behavior did not disturb theirs.
I left feeling like an intruder instead of a supporter. As far as I know not a penny of what I spent went to protect them or their environment.
Our guide told us, when the trip was over, that there are organizations wanting these types of trips to stop. I'm torn. I truly believe that animals and human's can have meaningful interactions that are mutually enjoyed...but I think in this case, they need more space, more respect!
Upon my return I researched some of the "organizations" mentioned and I think they deserve a chance to be heard! It would have made a huge difference for me, and my experience if I had found these sites first. There are ways to honor the manatee, to share their space, without endangering their lives, their homes and perhaps your own heart.
Save the Manatee Organization - Founded by Jimmy Buffett
http://www.savethemanatee.org/
"Do Not Disturb" Ecotour
http://www.savethemanatee.org/news_feature_ecotours_0809.html
US Fish and Wildlife Fact Sheet and Information
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/SpeciesReport.do?spcode=A007
"A full-grown manatee, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds, looks like the result of a genetic experiment involving a walrus and the Goodyear Blimp.”
~Dave Berry
All photos copyright Bianca Venice 2009
