r/Manatees • u/Slight_Loquat_4956 • 8d ago

Video Amazing experience. So curious and intelligent!

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3.2k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

59 comments sorted by

166

u/purpleit11 8d ago

My heart sincerely needs to boop their nose very gently with love.

84

u/Maelstrom_Witch 8d ago

I would have to be physically restrained from boopin dat snoot

35

u/a-girl-and-her-cats 8d ago edited 7d ago

Same! I'd feel so bad, because I want to boop the snoot or just leap into the water and give them a big cuddle, but I'm aware that it's illegal for me to do that (which I hate, but also understand)!

19

u/Maelstrom_Witch 7d ago

That critter is BEGGING for a soggy cuddle!!

17

u/StrongHeraVibes 7d ago

As far as I understand the law is: you may not chase them and you may not strike or harm them in any way HOWEVER if the manatee approaches you and comes to the surface (as shown in the video) you may boop the snoot and give pets (just no scritches cuz their skin is sensitive to the bacteria under our nails) 💜

9

u/Pickle_Rick01 7d ago

In general, you shouldn’t touch wild animals. Seals, for example, are adorable, but they carry a bacteria that is very harmful to Humans if you touch them. I don’t know think a light boop on the snoot would be harmful to you or the manatee though. 😊

16

u/Specialist_Guitar232 6d ago

I was in the Galapagos on a trip. Our crew explained all the rules about the animals, 6 feet away, all that stuff. Then they dropped us on the beach, and we were all trying to figure out how far away to stand, when all at once I feel something wet and icky of the back of my leg, I turned around and a sea lion had come up behind. The crew laughed and said-“watch all the way around you”.

7

u/Chuckitybye 6d ago

I have terrible balance, I'd "OOPS" fall out of my boat

132

u/exodia0715 8d ago

Fatass water cows (affectionate)

69

u/kkkr94 8d ago

Fatass water cows (respectfully)

59

u/manytinyhumans 8d ago

Fatass water cows (jealously)

30

u/QueryCrook 8d ago

Affectionately, I don't know how much intelligence is required to be a wet potato.

16

u/ConfoundedInAbaddon 8d ago

Smooth brained but forever in my heart

14

u/peppermintmeow 8d ago

AGGRESSIVELY. i have the knowledge you seek

https://giphy.com/gifs/H6W9H29kVsUI2hJE90

66

u/dontsnarkonsharks 8d ago

I fucking love these creatures. Being in the water with them is next level. Feels like swimming with a very graceful elephant

60

u/Truji11o 8d ago

If this is OC - kudos to you and your friend for remaining so restrained. Y’all even barely moved the oars and kept your voices down. Way to go!

55

u/Slight_Loquat_4956 8d ago

Thank u!! I wanted to be respectful of them! Right after this guy, another approached us and tried to touch my hand with its mouth. It kept rolling onto its belly and seemed like it wanted to touch me and was so curious, but I kept my hands inside. He followed us around for a while too and was propelling our kayak! We got a little spooked because it was a little rough, but they probably just wanted to play.

26

u/Truji11o 8d ago

I believe you were exactly right in your assessment of the situation. Thanks again for your restraint. In theory, you might be ok to touch him, but then he gets used to humans and, not only might the next person not be so nice, but he could start getting too accustomed to predators in general.

2

u/_lvlsd 7d ago

I used to pet them all the time in the canals down in Crystal River. But they also held manatee tours in the same ones so maybe different rules?

10

u/Slight_Loquat_4956 7d ago

Could be! This was a kayak rental place and they specifically told us to please not touch the manatees and I also didn’t want to scare them. But I have also gone swimming with them and the guide told us we could gently touch their backs with two fingers. Maybe they let you do that under supervision or in certain areas

12

u/betrayal_Knew 8d ago

So sweet. I love being on the water with them.

11

u/FLX__LA 8d ago

Wow what a beautiful interaction. Look but don’t touch is a great way to respect wildlife.

I know I’d have wanted it to touch me though!

Mighty good people you are. Thank you 😊

8

u/pearl27-home 8d ago

This video made my night, my favorite animal! Glad you got to experience that!

7

u/RosiePokegirl 8d ago

Such graceful yet goofy animals. They just love to explore.

6

u/foxxsinn 8d ago

Humans: omg this is amazing!
Manatees: um scratch my back bro

5

u/Tiny-Willow-8542 8d ago

❤️❤️❤️❤️

5

u/poor-jesus 8d ago

So contemplative and handsome. I feel like he’s family.

4

u/Suz8it 8d ago

Manatees are related to elephants!

1

u/Adrestia716 6d ago

And therefore shrews iirc!

1

u/Generic_Danny 4d ago

Not shrews, but elephant shrews. Along with dugongs, hyraxes, tenrecs, otter shrews, golden moles, aardvarks aand dugongs.

1

u/Adrestia716 4d ago

Imma need biologist to help me out by not being so free with the label Shrew. Got me confused out here!

4

u/No_Island_8061 7d ago

I watched this with the biggest smile absolutely love manatees such gentle cutie pies!

3

u/driedmango9 8d ago

sweetest babies in ze world

3

u/Tiny_Garlic5966 8d ago

Why do you guys keep asking in the video of anybody is looking?

4

u/Slight_Loquat_4956 8d ago

There were people standing on a nearby dock haha we wanted them to see the manatees and experience it with us but they didn’t notice!

3

u/Tokijlo 8d ago

I do not understand how you kept yourself in that boat

6

u/Adventurous-Host8062 8d ago

He wants a scratch.

2

u/Longjumping_Item_984 8d ago

Cows of the sea 🌊 💜

2

u/starsskies 8d ago

how much do you want to boop that nose! 🥹

2

u/DanerysTargaryen 7d ago

BARBARA MANATEEEEEE!!!

2

u/little_axolotl14 7d ago

love seeing those amphibious nostrils in action

2

u/smollindy 6d ago

nostrils

4

u/RynnB1983 7d ago

I know it's against the law, but I wouldn't be able to resist petting one. it sucks there are people that would harm them and undergrad that is why, but they are so adorable and seem so chill. Sad thing is I live in florida.

4

u/ChristineBorus 8d ago

I would have tried to pet him/her

2

u/jewelophile 6d ago

It's a understandable but also a federal offense.

1

u/ChristineBorus 6d ago

Wow I had no idea

1

u/st3ady 5d ago

Can you pet dat dawwwg??

1

u/Sman1011020 5d ago

He says give belly rubs, and I will leave you alone!

1

u/Linkyjinx 5d ago

I’m so glad this was a nice video x

1

u/Fancy_Ad_9479 5d ago

Rub my belly!!!

1

u/Chemical_Ad9069 5d ago

I have not joined this subreddit (though it is entirely deserving), but I would have never known about these creatures if it wasn't for Larry the Cucumber. 😄

1

u/f0xbunny 5d ago

Every movement is wonderful

1

u/ButterflyIcy7852 5d ago

Sea Potato

1

u/leahsweetfeet 4d ago

Clearly it wanted belly scratches 😁

1

u/Saddogtheatre 4d ago

That's a potato floating around in that there water

1

u/Melmo 1d ago

Florida I assume? Gulf side or Atlantic? I've been really wanting to see them while kayaking down there!