A group of tourists and their guide, Costa Rican Angelo Benlis from Tortuga Lodge, had the amazing chance to see a manatee in the waters of the Tortugero National Park in the Costa Rican Northeastern Caribbean.

Costa Rica is home to the West Indian Manatees, and the largest population of them is found in Tortuguero, they are rarely seen though, this is an endangered species, and the population in this area is believed to be of under 100 individuals, some consider the number is much lower since they were hunted for many years for their flesh, and were also threatened by the chemicals and sediments washing into Tortuguero’s waterways from banana plantations and today by the motor boat traffic in the canals.

Manatees, also known as sea cows, are herbivores, a large mammal that entered the Endangered Species List since the 70’s; this marine mammals are considered to be closely related to elephants.