14 DAY TRIAL // Officials working with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the United States now have their hands full trying to figure out why a man decided to have some fun by jumping on two manatees.
For those unaware, these animals are currently listed as an endangered species in Florida. Thus, several reports rolled out by conservationists say that just 2,500 manatees are left to inhabit the state's waters.
Although lethal algae blooms and climate change have had their say in the manatees' decline, motorboat accidents need also be blamed for this species' now being an endangered one.
Needless to say, the manatees' being threatened with extinction means that ordinary folks would do best to leave these animals alone, and not harm them in any way. Tree Hugger reports that the man currently investigated for having abused manatees was caught on camera while jumping on the animals' backs in a canal in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Check out the video below to see how the incident unfolded. Interestingly enough, officials are yet to find a reasonable explanation for why the man did what he did.
Commenting on this incident, Fish and Wildlife Officer Lenny Salberg stated as follows:
“It's sad. Here you have a manatee just swimming down a canal not hurting anyone. To actually go out of your way to harm them, what would make you want to do that?”
The same source informs us that manatee harassment charges will most likely be filed against this man.
Should he be found guilty (and there is little doubt that this will be the case), he risks being made to spend 60 days behind bars. Furthermore, he might have to pay a $500 (€387.31) fine.
Towards the end of February 2013, one other man got arrested in Florida on account of his being guilty of harassing a baby manatee.
