Manatees, also known as "Sea Cows", were once mistaken by sailors to be mermaids. But manatees are not a myth. They're real, and they are in a lot of trouble. They are highly endangered, and have been listed as endangered since 1967. Boat collisions can hurt manatees, and the propellers cut them. The fast moving boats speed toward them, and the slow manatees can't get away in time. Also, people's trash chokes manatees or block their intestines. Deadly red tides (pile-ups of toxic algae) can poison them. Cold weather can also kill manatees, if it makes the water temperatures too low, because they have a hard time keeping up their body temperatures. The truth is, this poor species could soon die off completely.
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