Monday, November 20, 2006

IT IS FREEZING!

COLD
MANATEES GATHER AT HOSPITAL HOLE
SEEKING THE WARMTH OF A DEEP NATURAL SPRING
PERHAPS 15 OR SO ARE THERE
BUNCHES OF MOMS AND BABIES

HUMPY, THE BABY AND FAN ARE THERE TOO.
THE BUMP IS LARGER, WHITE AND POINTED

I QUIETLY KAYAK AROUND, ENJOYING THE SOLITUDE OF JUST ME AND THE MANATEES.
NO ONE ELSE IS THERE.




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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

THIS IS NOT A HAPPY STORY

IDIOTS ABOUND, you are not going to believe this one, not for the squeamish. I am giving my manatees an extra hug today.
From the Miami Herald, November 12, 2006,http://www.Miami. com/mld/miamiher ald/news/ local/15991942. htmBISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK -- Rangers investigate manatee mutilationBy ELIAS E. LOPEZ (elopez@MiamiHerald. com)

Authorities are asking the public for assistance in finding the person orpersons guilty of mutilating a manatee, found dead off the shore of Biscayne National Park on Friday.

National Park Service officials responded Fridaymorning to a boater's report of a dead manatee floating in the bay near thepark located at 9700 SW 328 St. in Homestead.

NPS officers say the suspectsprobably captured the animal -- six feet long, between 500 and 600 pounds --either late Thursday or early Friday before slashing its throat and cuttingoff its fins. ''It's pretty disgraceful that a manatee was treated thatway,'' NPS officer Brian Fields said. ``They're protected and to see thathappening, it's really disturbing.' '

The investigation into the mutilation continues, but if officials find thatthe incident occurred as a result of human abuse, NPS officials say thiswould be one of the worst cases they have ever seen. ''This is the firsttime I've seen this with manatees. Usually they get slashed by boats,'' saidFields, a law enforcement park ranger. He added that those responsiblecould face one year in federal prison and/or a $100,000 fine.

The FloridaFish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be conducting a necropsy onthe mammal on Monday to determine the cause of death. The manatee, long theposter mammal of the environmental movement in Florida, is listed as athreatened species. The docile sea cows face several threats, includingdeaths from boat strikes, red tide and habitat loss.The National Park Service is asking anyone with information to call305-230-1144, ext. 3067.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Listen to this


So there I was kayaking and hanging out in Hospital Hole. There were about 5 manatees there including one little baby and mom. SO exciting! for me. Someone in a canoe went by and I asked them if they saw the manatees. They unexcitedly said yes. Then the guy said.."I saw two doe and a buck deer, now that is exciting." I once again thought, what is wrong with people. Yep deer are exciting to see, but how can you compare that to an endangered species? Also there were people fishing in Hospital Hole in a huge pontoon boat. The manatees were all around them, and all they cared about was fishing. Not one of them made any comments about the manatees. I hope they were careful when they left, but I doubt it.
SOME PEOPLE ARE CLUELESS.
Thanks for listening
Love to all manatee lovers
JP

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