The tour guides at Get Up And Go Kayaking (GUAGK) have seen almost everything Florida’s state parks have to offer when it comes to animal observation. The guides and their visitors get up close and personal with animals in areas like Silver Springs State Park, both above and below the water, while floating in transparent kayaks.
Although visitors are accustomed to witnessing a variety of creatures interacting with one another, a tour guide recently noticed an adorable and unexpected encounter between a huge mother and her infant, and he documented it all on tape.
“[A] baby manatee and [her] Mama giving hugs to each other on the river today,” Get Up And Go Silver Springs (GUAGSS) wrote on Instagram. “This sweet moment was caught by our guide, Josh.”
You can watch that moment here:
Watching a newborn manatee swim over to his mother and give her a wet kiss on the chin warmed everyone’s hearts. As the tour group floated passed, the mother manatee encircled her youngster with her flippers.
The Silver River in Central Florida is home to some manatees year-round, but between November and March there is a constant influx. These months are known as “Manatee Season” because of the colder waters that draw manatees, many of whom are trying to start new families. The enormous aquatic creatures, often called “sea cows,” usually disappear when the weather and water temperature rise.
While GUAGK guides are always delighted to encounter newborns in Florida’s state parks, nothing beats witnessing a loving manatee mother tending to her young.
“[We] came across Mama still keeping her baby close to her,” GUAGSS wrote in a separate Instagram post.
Even while it’s thrilling to share these experiences with other animal enthusiasts when on kayaking tours, GUAGK always observes wildlife in the outdoors according to procedure, particularly when there are young animals present.
“If you see this duo along the Silver River, make sure to keep a safe distance, as it’s very important that new baby manatees have the ability to get air when they need and [that] the mama has room to feed her and graze, as she’s working hard to keep her baby healthy,” GUAGSS wrote.
This year’s Manatee Season is still being enjoyed by GUAGK guides, who adore sharing these unique experiences with their visitors. They’re thrilled to share the waters with this particular mother manatee and her young while they’re still here, even though they’re not sure if they’ll stay after the season.
Though they love every animal they see while traveling, their manatees will always hold a particular place in their hearts.
“There’s something peaceful about watching these amazing creatures slowly flow with the current,” GUAGSS wrote on Instagram. “[We] could watch them gracefully swim all day long.”
