In February 2010, my husband and I donned
wet suits and snorkeling gear and jumped into the cold waters of Florida’s
Crystal River. Our guide told us to swim to the port side of the boat, go around
the bend for about a hundred yards, and turn left into a small lagoon called Three
Sisters Springs.
My
husband had snorkeled with the manatees a few years earlier and urged me to
experience what to him, was a spiritual moment. I’d seen the wildlife in
Africa, boobies and giant tortoises in the Galapagos, elephants and rhinos in
India, and every tropical fish imaginable while diving in Mexico; and, of
course, the whooping cranes in Texas. These were all enchanting moments for me.
How could one marine mammal species top them?
As
we swam closer to our destination, the water warmed and the river’s lagoon
opened into a quiet manatee haven. Below the surface were at least two-dozen
dozing gray blimps. After a few moments, several began to rise for a breath of
air. A particular one grabbed a gulp of oxygen and on his way back down,
stopped and stared me in the eye. Notwithstanding my other memorable wildlife
encounters, this one left a lump in my throat. Beholding this sad, gentle
visage was unlike any wildlife encounter I’d ever had before.
Not
until a few weeks ago, when I picked up Craig Pittman’s book, Manatee Insanity: Inside the War over
Florida’s Most Famous Endangered Species, did I fully appreciate the good
fortune to have experienced a manatee moment. Pittman tells the story of the
species’ struggle to survive in a rapidly changing environment. He leaves no
stone unturned in his comprehensive research of the manatee’s story. More than
five thousand manatees have been killed by speeding powerboats during the past
four decades. The protection awarded them by the Endangered Species Act did
little to keep these animals safe from boat collisions and propeller blades. Grassroots
organizations, wildlife biologists, and concerned citizens who attempted to
designate manatee sanctuaries and lower its speed limits for boaters, were vigorously
opposed by politicians, and lobbyists for developers and construction companies.
What ensued was the “Manatee War,” which pitted the rights of an endangered
animal against the rights of citizens who wanted to enjoy Florida’s waterways
without restriction.
Pittman
is a journalist whose research skills are unsurpassed. He tells an honest,
accurate story; and one full of passion, frustration, failure, and success. His
book reads like a true-life thriller. Just when you think the tables will turn
in favor of the manatee, a major setback occurs making the species’ survival
seem impossible. I highly recommend Manatee
Insanity to anyone passionate about environmental issues and endangered
species and those who dedicate their lives to making a positive difference in
our world.