Passively observe though the urge to reach out and touch is almost overwhelming. Give manatees space despite those who lecture that swimming with them leads to our education. There will always be manatees in books, videos of them swimming by, pictures of a mother nourishing her calf. But these are only memories. The real thing needs to be out there barrel-rolling freely through the grasses, sleeping upside down on the bottom of the bay or on the surface with the sunlight warming its back or munching on manatee grass.
Extinction is forever, no matter whom it is for.
She is co-chairwoman of the Save the Manatee Club and the manatee issues chairwoman for the Sierra Club. All rights reserved.