Several beach-goers surround and touch a Florida manatee at Bonita Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, in Bonita Springs. According to Gabriella Ferraro, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, pursuing and touching a manatee is considered illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. 'They may lose their natural fear of humans, or they may look to humans as food and or water sources. Additionally, harassment may force mother manatees to abandon their calves, orphaned calves are not likely to survive on their own,' said Ferraro. David Albers/Staff

Photo by DAVID ALBERS

Several beach-goers surround and touch a Florida manatee at Bonita Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, in Bonita Springs. According to Gabriella Ferraro, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, pursuing and touching a manatee is considered illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. "They may lose their natural fear of humans, or they may look to humans as food and or water sources. Additionally, harassment may force mother manatees to abandon their calves, orphaned calves are not likely to survive on their own," said Ferraro. David Albers/Staff

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