Manatees are mating in Florida: Citizens call the police

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in the US state of Florida released a video clip last Saturday of a group of marine creatures congregating near the beach. “If you saw this, you didn’t see it,” The Office joked in the caption.

“We are constantly getting calls from concerned citizens who see manatees and think the animals are in distress. We can assure you they are doing a good job.” Live in the waters around Florida Thousands of manateesThey are large marine mammals that have lived in this area for millions of years and are also called manatees. During the summer months, manatees form “mating flocks,” often found in shallow waters near shore, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, CNN reports.

“I don’t need”

“It is very interesting to watch flocks of manatees when several bulls pursue a cow until it is ready to mate,” the committee said on its website. “For your own safety, watch these flocks from afar as the animals focus on mating and pay no heed to intruders in their midst.”

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reassured residents in a Facebook post that the manatees seen among these social flocks were not experiencing any distress. The message says: “If you see her, you don’t need to call.”

No touching or harassment

The sheriff’s office also states that touching or disturbing manatees is illegal and dangerous. This animal species is protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Conservation Act of 1978. Violations of federal manatee protection laws are punishable by fines of up to $100,000 or up to a year in prison, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The commission said manatees mate throughout the year but are most active in the summer. Mothers give birth to their young at about 13 months of age and the calf usually stays with its mother for up to two years.

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