Florida Manatee
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Most people think that the manatee is just a big, ugly creature, but actually the manatee is the most harmless and graceful of all the big animals. They swim along, minding their own business, spending up to eight hours of their day feeding on almost any kind of floating vegetation in the water. Eating this much is not a problem because manatees have an endless supply of teeth. Sometimes, when they are peacefully swimming in the warm waters of the coast and rivers of Florida, a speedboat suddenly crashes through the water heading straight for the helpless manatee. This is the main reason manatees have become endangered.
Did You Know?
The manatee has many fascinating characteristics. First of all, they can grow to be as big as a small sports car and weigh 3,000 pounds. Second, they even have fingernails. Lastly, they are partly nocturnal.
Another reason manatees are endangered is because they only have one calf every three years. Signs are being put up in the water that show where the manatees are located. Also, Sea World has a crew that comes out, rescues the manatees and brings them back to the parts of Sea World where the manatees can be cared for. Although this saves many manatees' lives, manatees don't live long in captivity.