This is a picture of a manatee off the coast of Florida. They are amazing creatures, known as sea cows and close relatives of the elephant. I saw them off the coast of Belize, they are shy and gentle creatures and you must approach quietly to watch them graze.

In earlier times they are believed to be the real life creature that gave rise to the mermaid myths (gratuitous image of mermaid included below). Sailors gaining a glimpse of these shy creatures as they briefly surfaced for air imagined they were having an intimate encounter with a creature that is half woman, half fish.

How ironic that people in Florida, ringing to report a sick or injured manatee, are also having an intimate encounter. They are being put through to a sex chat line entitled "Intimate Encounters". It seems that the number to report injured manatees was replaced with a new one some four years ago. In spite of this many signs and brochures still carry the old number which has now been purchased by Intimate Encounters for those seeking a different kind of errrr biological encounter.

If any of you live in the Florida area the correct place to report manatee injuries is to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on 1-888-404-FWCC. If you are after that other sort of intimate encounter you are just going to have to do it by the road side near one of the old manatee signs.

Read more in St Petersburg Times
or visit the Save The Manatee site.