A sea cow's close-up

Enter a staring match with a curious manatee if you want, but don't challenge these "sea cows" in a bulkiness contest. Despite their balloonish appearance as they float through shallow seawater, Florida manatees can weigh more than 1,500 kilograms and reach almost 4 metres long.Manatees were a rarity in Florida as recently as 50 years ago after boat collisions and habitat destruction nearly drove them to extinction. Since being listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, the seagoing mammals have managed to rebound, being upgraded to "threatened" in 2017, (still not a great title, but it's an improvement).