Pirate ships no longer roam
Near the sea cows' southern home.
Motorboats and speedboats race,
Taking up a lot of space.

Sharp propellers slice just where
Sea cows must come up for air.
Criss-cross scars are plain to see
On an adult manatee.

Now, where manatees were many
There are really hardly any,
Sixteen hundred at a guess:
Some say there are even less.