Friendly Manatee Surprises Paddleboarders By Swimming Over And Saying 'Hello'

May 03, 2019 by apost team

A young woman got the surprise of a lifetime when she went out paddleboarding with her friend. Celine Chasteen and her friend were enjoying the beautiful ocean scenery near Jupiter, Florida when they spotted what looked like a rock in the far distance.

Deciding to check it out, the two girls paddled closer and were shocked by the sight. Celine and her friend were greeted by a friendly manatee.

At first, the manatee, or “sea cow,” just rolled around in the water, enjoying his wonderful playtime. Eventually, the manatee decided to get closer to the two paddleboarders, even putting his large flippers on Celine’s board.

Celine’s friend recorded the incredibly rare encounter, which has since gone viral, being watched over six million times. Celine can be heard laughing and expressing her immense excitement as the sea cow gently taps her board.

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Since her encounter, Celine has told reporters what an amazing experience she had with the manatee. Talking with a reporter from local news station WPTV, Celine said that she thought the manatee was a very cute animal and hopes to see him again someday.

Celine and her friend are also being praised for the way they handled the situation. Despite being cute and playful, manatees are also an endangered species. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act includes heavy fines and even jail time for people touching or harassing a manatee.

The state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommends that if a manatee approaches you while you’re out paddleboarding, boating, or doing any other kind of activity on the ocean, it is okay to watch and enjoy the creature’s action, like what Celine and her friend did, but to never touch the animal.

Additionally, the group also recommends to never try to get a closer look at a manatee that is actively trying to avoid people, simply let the animal have its space.

What do you think of Celine and her friend’s encounter with the friendly manatee? Have you ever had an unexpected encounter with wildlife? Let us know in the comments and pass this along to all the animal lovers you know!