Collisions with motorboats in the Sunshine State's crowded waters, a shrinking natural habitat and new strains of infectious disease have all combined to make manatees an endangered species. The one hope for these odd sea mammals is that the world loves them.
Manatees bring tourists to Florida, and they remain a piece of local culture and lore.
Sports teams, a Florida county and many businesses are named for this distant relative of the elephant. And there is indeed something lovable about a manatee. It has a hairy, wrinkled face, wide jowls and a blubbery body. It is slothful, spending 12 hours a day sleeping or playing. A vegetarian, it does not prey on other animals.