I'm mad!!!

I was just thinking what a nice deal I found - 1/2+ off a manatee or dolphin excursion in Crystal River - when I read what the manatee tour included. Isn't touching a manatee in the wild illegal?! Apparently, the same people who are supposed to be working to protect these wondermous creatures see nothing wrong with issuing special permits to bottom feeders looking to cash in on the docile nature of Florida's state marine mammal. What's wrong with this picture?!

I just watched a short video of divers 'snuggling' up to a group of manatees who couldn't get into the warm springs, as it was already overcrowded. They were cold and hungry and trying their best to stay warm and conserve energy. You cold see that they were trying to get away from the people who used them to push off, rode on their backs and chased after them.

DAWG! There's a reason there are laws against this stuff! But if you shell out a little cash, we'll let you do it, anyway.

Now I realize that there are two sides to every story. If anybody can tell me any part of the other side that makes this OK, please enlighten me. Coz right now, I'm kinda sick to my stomach.