Thirsty Manatees | National Geographic

Christy Hudak and John Cassady work with

Christy Hudak and John Cassady work with manatees for Florida’s Fish and Wildlife

manatees for Florida’s Fish and Wildlife

manatees for Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Service the freshwater flow coming from

Service the freshwater flow coming from

Service the freshwater flow coming from the Everglades is very important for the

the Everglades is very important for the

the Everglades is very important for the manatees if manatees we’re never able to

manatees if manatees we’re never able to

manatees if manatees we’re never able to find fresh water they you eventually die

find fresh water they you eventually die

find fresh water they you eventually die today around these mangroves they can’t

today around these mangroves they can’t

today around these mangroves they can’t find a single manatee with less fresh

find a single manatee with less fresh

find a single manatee with less fresh water coming out of the Everglades

water coming out of the Everglades

water coming out of the Everglades manatees must search for a drink

manatees must search for a drink

manatees must search for a drink elsewhere

and she’s changing their behavior and

and she’s changing their behavior and they’ll start coming to any boat dock

they’ll start coming to any boat dock

they’ll start coming to any boat dock that has a freshwater hose

when they do find manatees it’s right

when they do find manatees it’s right behind their engine in a man-made canal

this is what thirst looks like when not

this is what thirst looks like when not enough freshwater flows through the park

you’re watching a manatee trying to get

you’re watching a manatee trying to get some fresh water from that coming out

some fresh water from that coming out

some fresh water from that coming out ice machine they start coming into areas

ice machine they start coming into areas

ice machine they start coming into areas with some boat traffic it’s dangerous

with some boat traffic it’s dangerous

with some boat traffic it’s dangerous for them it seems this manatees

for them it seems this manatees

for them it seems this manatees desperate search for water has already

desperate search for water has already

desperate search for water has already brought it all too close to a propeller

brought it all too close to a propeller

brought it all too close to a propeller those marks on its back are fresh cuts

those marks on its back are fresh cuts

those marks on its back are fresh cuts the type of cuts that have killed many

manatees are another casualty of the

manatees are another casualty of the freshwater shortage if the water stops

freshwater shortage if the water stops

freshwater shortage if the water stops they may disappear from here altogether