YESTERDAY'S TALK

IVY FEEDING THE GIRLS AT THE PARK


I went to the park yesterday and gave three manatee encounter talks. YEAH! I feel like I am improving. At the first talk I had two manatees with me, and they wanted their vitamins. At the second and third talks I had 5 at each talk and they were pushing and begging for vitamins. The girls performed like pros. They finished all the elephant vitamins. Ivy and Ms. Vicky -you guys can relate to this. I will see if I can get the pic of IVY and the manatees to upload . Vicky, let me know if I can post your pic.

Questions people asked

Do the sheepshead fish pick parasites off the manatees ?
answer: NO, they pick algae off, but their teeth are so sharp they sometimes cause damage to the manatee's thick elephant like skin.

I am trying to upload pics , but it is not working this morning. I am so frustrated.

Some little Head Start Kid asked me why they lived in water? Boy what did I answer? I think I said because that is how they survive, and they like the water and like to swim.

nother question- Why can't you give them fresh water out of a hose?
Answer: because it changes their natural habits and gets them used to human beings.

what is the gestation time?
answer: 13 long months.

A woman came up to me afterward and said that she came to the park specifically to see the manatees. She thought they were such beautiful peaceful creatures. She told me her heart ached for their survival and their plight brought her to tears. I spent about an hour talking with her.
I told her she wasn't alone and that is how I felt too.