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Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Authorities released this photo of a woman reportedly riding a manatee.
A woman who police said was seen touching and riding a manatee in Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas, Fla., over the weekend turned herself in to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Tampa Bay Times reported.
Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez, 52, told police Tuesday that she wasn't aware what she did was against the law, the report said.
Witnesses gave authorities her description and photos of her riding the sea cow, which is a second-degree misdemeanor. She was seen riding the manatee at 1 p.m. Sunday in the water north of Gulf Pier, authorities said.
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Gutierrez was not arrested or charged, but the charges were referred to the state attorney's office, according to the Times.
The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Acts states that: "It is unlawful for any person at any time, by any means, or in any manner intentionally or negligently to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb or attempt to molest, harass, or disturb any manatee."
Authorities say the penalty for the woman could be up to 60 days in jail and a possible fine of $500.
Authorities don't believe any manatees were injured.
"It's a wild animal. It's not something to be ridden," Susan Butler, a manatee expert with the U.S. Geological Survey in Gainesville, told the Times. "I can't say that as a biologist I would ever, ever condone that, or say that (the manatee) wanted them to do that."
This article includes reporting by Lisa Orkin Emmanuel, NBCMiami.com, and NBC News staff.
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Leave a Comment:
Riding the Manatee, hmmm so thats what they call it now :) I feel bad for the manatee after looking at the pix.
What a moron. Plain and simple.
Among many degrees my specialty is zoology ...after reading hundreds of studies on manatee it is my opinion that the results that manatee CRAVE attention and physical contact..The officials that make the statement that these animals would rather be left alone, are just another source of governmental restrictions we are subjected to daily...Some of gods creatures are "flee to be free" types and those are obvious when they are approached by man or beast...Others ,out of a curious nature,tend to seek out companionship outside of their own..How these animals are treated is of the upmost importance....These are intelligent animals and can sense harm and will go the other way if threatened...A speed boat is a little bit faster than they can calculate and therefore they are injured or killed.....The final fact is that if that woman was causing any discomfort to that particular animal ,ONE thrash of the tail would have sent the woman flying. Manatee develop a growth of barnacle build up on their body that they use both natural and other animals to rub against to remove them..Kind of like scratching an itch...No harm intended No harm done...Seeking attention by these beasts is just what they do. The same groups of "specialists" that make these statements are the same people that introduce endangered species back into nature only to have to go back a short time later and have to DESTROY them because they made a miscalculation. I have a suspicion that the animal "specialists" like the rules and regulations .because if the rules are obeyed, these few CHOSEN SPECIALISTS have their own private zoo...It is obvious when I attend seminars that these people feel that the animals that they are observing are THERE'S
Thank you for your explanation.
Can someone please explain to me why riding a manatee is illegal?
Because of the Act mentioned in the article (protecting manatees in Florida waters) and the Marine Mammal Protection act (protects all marine mammals including manatees, dolphins, and whales in U.S. waters) makes it illegal to swim with or harrass these animals. The laws were created to protect the animals. They also help protect us. In the extreme, they are used, threatened, and killed. In the more innocent venture of a tourist just swimming with a group of marine mammals, harm can still come to the animal. They are able to get disease from us sometimes. It can affect their social abilities and interactions (although some marine mammals do seem to seek out human or other speicies interaction, so that's a catch-all that doesn't always apply). Marine mammals have been known to be aggressive toward human encroachers, too.
Even if there wasn't a law, why would anyone ride a manatee? How does that seem like something the manatee wants to do? How does that sound like anything that couldn't possibly hurt the animal? I understand the urge to touch or interact, but ride?
What a moron. Plain and simple. You don't "ride" a wild sea animal...
Hurry, time to climb back in your shell.
Oh! go ride a White Shark, kinda like Bull riding.
Are manatee steaks good? .....too fatty?
hell I thought it was a Manatee humping another Manatee doggy style
Just take a look at the stupid cow riding the poor manatee. That's all you need as an explanation. I hope she gets the book thrown at her: for possibly harming the animal, for being so stupid, and for being fat and hideous in a two-piece bathing suit. She probably doesn't even speak English.
Which one is the manatee?
I heard they had manatee preserves in FL. Where can I buy a jar?
Wow hatred and foul name calling for this lady is kinda counter productive here, if it were a story about her being taunted about her weight the out pouring would be in her favor. Kinda hypercritical some of you are. Ok off the soap box for the day :)
Something is happening to people, and it's scary. They do not know where to draw the line. They will do anything, no fear, no sense of consequences. This leads to an ignorant and dangerous society. I mean this about the doers and those that share their comments.
Maureen- I get that you think this woman is not the brightest bulb in the pack but I personally think you are worse than some of these folks commenting - you are being so nasty. When my kids were in Florida (adult kids) they were swimming and they were approached by a manatee and it actually stuck around swimming with them for quite a while - of course they were smart enough NOT to try to ride it. Maybe this woman had just come from visiting SeaWorld or one of those parks and saw all the interaction with the use to be wildlife they have and just got swept up in the moment, we don't know. I just hate to see people speaking so nasty about others - it's just so easy for folks to be nasty while hiding behind their computers.
If you look really close I think it's Rosie O'Donnell under the water
Why is it that many think they can control everything in lifes circle. If a wild animal comes into ones home, they cry "kill" Why then would said person expect they have the right to encroach upon the home of anyone or anything else. Tells you a great deal about those people-surely they are do no respect of consideration.
Yawn.
No worries in the sunshine state. If you have the cash, you can have a manatee roast at an eagle shoot. $5,000.00 per plate and 10 grand per bird.
Manatees have not evolved for these times, hence they get killed all the time.
She also violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
Even with breaking two different protection acts, I believe her when she said she didn't know she did anything wrong. How many times do we see in commercials or movies someone catching the fin of a dolphin and going for a ride; or even "just" swimming with wild dolphins near? Many people don't know that it's against the law if you're in U.S. Waters. I know ignorance of the law is no excuse, but if they're really trying to protect the marine mammals, then I'd think they would make sure everyone knows and it's posted to excess so even people who are seeing the ocean for the first time are aware. Too late if only because of ignorance someone touches a protected animal and gives them an illness. Honestly, if I didn't already know about the laws (which I learned because I studied dolphins in Hawaii), I don't know that I would ever think to ask or find out if one existed.
I love the caption that was chosen for this. WOMAN RIDES WILD MANATEE. Makes it sounds like she jumped on a wild bulls back or something. Yes, they are wild, but they are also gentle creatures. They may be docile but they are large and one flip of that tail could do you in. Perhaps this woman was not from the area, maybe she didn't know it was illegal to get up close and personal. Give the woman a break, she turned herself in. News is making wayyyy more about this than needs to be. UNaware and UNiformed boaters pose way more threat than this woman.
Wassamatta Mureen, wig too tight?
Who freakin cares! What is the big deal here! In contrast, the manatee is much larger than this woman. How much harm can come from someone interacting with any mammal in nature. If there was NO INTENT to cause harm, WHAT HARM WAS DONE? Stupid, tight butt cheek people is what is the harm here. Go climb back into your lonely shell and come up with something else to complain about. What an epidemic...TOO MANY lacking in the noggin human beings with nothing better than to shove their nose up your corn hole!
People are inherently curious - however, if we are taught from a young age to respect and provide dignity to all living creatures, this world would be better to live in. I am not saying she hurt this animal, but if something was larger than you, and it decided to ride on your back without asking or by force, would that be okay?
Geez, I'm from Iowa and I even know that the Manatee's are protected and riding one is a BIG NO-NO! Maybe she thought she was swimming with dolphins. As long as the Manatee wasn't harmed and the lady is socked with at least a $500 fine to put the icing on her vacation, I don't see the point in making a huge deal out of this. It's done, get over it.
Wow, Maureen, definitely lighten up. I get where you're coming from in that the Manatee was probably frightened, etc., but Jesus, have you ever had a sense of humor. It's one thing to be an animal lover, I live in household full of them, but you spew an awful lot of hatred for human beings. Makes one wonder who or what hurt you so badly that you have to be so full of hate.