This is Planet Money from NPR.

Every once in a while you see something that shakes you out of the consumer autopilot

of everyday life.

Something that reminds you that this high-tech global economy of ours is actually just an

elaborate contortion of the natural world.

You remember that everything we truck, barter, and exchange is woven into the fabric of

something much more ancient.

That after millions of years of evolution, we are literally burning the remnants of prehistoric

forests to keep our iPhones charged.

At one of those moments one morning not long ago, at a kind of wildlife sanctuary on the

east coast of Florida's Tampa Bay.

I was standing at the bustling front entrance with marine biologist Lauren Gomez, waiting

for a truck carrying a very special delivery, a rehabilitated manatee.

It's hard to tell what's a tour bus and what's a manatee.

This one's just the UPS.

Although sometimes they come into UPS truck.

Have they really?

Yes.

Oh here it comes, there's the truck.

Yep.

Alright Lauren is directing the truck in.

They've just opened the back door and there is a rubbery looking manatee inside.

...