Uncle Xi story time: Many a moon ago, I was a bit of a dumb ass. As you might imagine, I didn't have much in the way of understanding regarding the nature of animals. "Ohh, that animal eats smaller animals, that's neat." Not much past this primitive concept. Until I halfway eloped to Florida with a very dear friend of mine. We fled in a generally southerly direction, seeking to find a place where we could enjoy each other, but no one of our immediate family. Enter the Florida Canals.
Unlike canals in what I assume are a great many places, Florida canals are NOT people friendly. Boats, surely; manatees, definitely. Being that her grandfather, cool gentleman that I remember, had a boat, we decided to venture forth, because I'd never seen the Gulf of Mexico in my mere 17 years of life. (internalize scream as I try to recall, and realize that that was 10 years ago)
Well, it was a particularly warm evening, full of mosquito, gnats, and sweat, so I decided to enjoy a moment in the waters on our return. What a silly decisions. 'But why thought, Uncle Xi?" Well, let me tell you. At dusk, Florida Gators enjoy feeding time. I don't know if it's the hour of day, or my delicious Georgia ass, but they swarmed.
With an acute awareness, I noticed several logs slink into the water some 75m from my skinny self. Eyes bulging in what you can only describe as a general case of terror, I began to back pedal my way toward the boat. Now, I don't know if you know this, but a hungry alligator can swim at about 20mph, or 17 knots. For those laymen, that is about 8.5 meters per second. Meanwhile, my dumb ass can cover about 2 meters per second.
Shit escalated quickly, and I realized I was gator bait. My would-be missus yelped, and I scooted, but I was absolutely out of my element. Low and behold, below me movement. Surely I'm fucked. Nope. Surfacing before me and betwixt the desirous gators was none other than the majestic 바다소
badaso(no shit that's what the Koreans call the sea cow, the beautiful manatee), dugong, beautiful sea-tit saved my life. Not just one, a herd(half a dozen by my fear-driven estimate) Decided that ole Xi shouldn't die today.
Clambering into the boat, I view out toward what should have been my death, and yet, I see naught but a bunch of beautiful Manatee forming a wall between stupid me and the gators who'd decided I was an evening snack.
I'll never forget that experience, and forever extol the gentle beauty, strength, and amazement felt by those wonderful animals. I cannot say they have human(or dolphin) intelligence, however I'll 100% of the time say that they show more empathy toward a stranger in one instant than any human I've met in my life.