点评:The manatee is an endangered species in Florida, a gentle giant, a relative of the elephant, a vegetarian, a marine mammal that is eight to 10 feet long and weighs from 800 to 1,200 pounds. Often referred as a sea cow, manatees are fully aquatic with two flippers and a large, paddle-shaped tail. Their population is declining due to habitat loss, food sources and boat accidents. That is why the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983, to protect manatees that enter the springs to keep warm during the winter. Located at 1502 Southeast Kings Bay Drive in Crystal River, Florida, on the Gulf coast, 90 miles north of Tampa, 85 miles northwest of Orlando, the 80-acre refuge consists of 20 islands and several small parcels of land and is accessible only by boat.
翻译:海牛是佛罗里达州的濒危物种,它们体型庞大却性情温顺,与大象是近亲,以植物为食。作为海洋哺乳动物,它们的体长在8到10英尺之间,体重则在800至1,200磅左右。海牛常被称为“海牛”,完全生活在水中,拥有两片鳍以及一条类似桨状的大尾巴。由于栖息地丧失、食物来源减少以及船只碰撞等因素,它们的数量正在不断减少。正因如此,水晶河国家野生动物保护区于1983年得以建立。该保护区旨在保护那些冬季为取暖而进入泉水区的海牛。保护区位于佛罗里达州克里斯特尔里弗市的东南金斯湾大道1502号,地处墨西哥湾沿岸,在坦帕以北90英里、奥兰多西北85英里处。这片占地80英亩的保护区由20个岛屿及若干小块陆地组成,只能乘船进入。