Making Contact “Most manatees don’t want to have much of anything to do with people,” says Patrick Rose. He is an aquatic biologist. Rose thinks that swimmers shouldn’t get too close to manatees. Local activist Tracy Colson agrees.


“T ere should be no rubbing or touching,” she says. “T at’s what dogs are for. Manatees are wild animals.” Most visitors try to follow the


rules. Don’t disturb resting manatees. Don’t get in their way when they are swimming. But Colson points out that there have been abuses. Some people try to ride on manatees. Some guides take babies from their mothers to pass around to tourists.


Overcrowding T ere are other issues, too. Manatees live in the water. But they breathe air. So they spend a lot of time near the surface. T ey also move slowly. T is puts them at risk from motor boats. In the last fi ve years, more than 80


manatees have died due to watercraſt . Advocates want slower speed zones to protect manatees. Overcrowding is also a problem.


Tour boats take snorkelers and divers to places around Kings Bay. T e narrow canal beside T ree Sisters Springs is very popular. At times, more than 300 manatees crowd into this area. Kayaks, swimmers, and tour boats might surround the manatees. T is not only causes stress for the manatees, but the visitors, too! Some argue for less human contact


with manatees. But tourism is a big business. Preserving what’s best for man and manatee—that’s a challenge!


WORDWISE


activist: a person who campaigns for some kind of social change


advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy


endangered: at risk of extinction 6


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