You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Hey Shortwavers!

Today we are passing the mic to our colleagues at Planet Money to talk about the manatees of Florida.

Reporter Alexi Horowitz-Gazi brings us this unusual story about how a power plant is helping restore the state's

manatee populations. I know, I know, makes no sense, but I'm going to let Alexi take it from here.

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

Add 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 in the UPS truck. Have they really?

Oh here it comes, there's the truck.

Yep. All right, Lauren is directing the truck in.

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

For the uninitiated, the Florida manatee or C-Cow is there also known.

Looks a bit like a sentient fingerling potato, but enormous. This guy is on the smaller side at 685 pounds.

He's got gray leathery skin, fingernails on his flippers, and a sweet, wiskery face, like an extra doughy seal.

Watch your feet, watch your toes. Everybody clear?

...