A new group of manatees that unexpectedly approached the shore once again surprised bathers at Sunny Isles Beach, Miami-Dade County, in an incident that raised concerns among social media users.
"It is happening more and more. These poor manatees were stranded yesterday in Sunny Isles," indicated the Miami-certified events page on its Instagram account, sharing a video with about a dozen of these mammals on the beach shore.
Just a week ago, another group of these enormous marine mammals, known for their peaceful nature, was spotted resting on the sand in the same area. After their brief visit, the manatees returned to the ocean safely, according to local reports.
The sighting was shared on social media with videos showing the manatees swimming peacefully near the shore, an unusual spectacle for the residents and tourists in the area.
"It's mating season for manatees; they gather in groups like this to mate. Maybe the waves pushed them too close to shore, but they are capable of returning to the water. Poor babies, they are just trying to hook up and everyone is recording," commented a user on the post by miamicertified.
This event, unusual in the summer months, occurs every winter in Florida, when hundreds of manatees seek refuge in warmer waters due to the low temperatures.
In January, numerous manatees gathered at the Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, a city in Citrus County.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District shared a video showing animals huddled in the hot springs, where temperatures reach 72 degrees Fahrenheit, providing an ideal shelter.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service protects these manatees by limiting access to the springs of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge during the manatee season, which runs from November 15 to April 1.
Crystal River, known as the "manatee capital of the world," attracts visitors who come to swim with these iconic mammals in their natural habitat.
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