The image of this manatee and the story from BBC were really infuriating. Last year I was swimming in a spring and a woman in a canoe was the designated protector of a young manatee.

She called us out of the way so the manatee could meander by, but instead he came over to take a look at me. I was delighted of course.

When I related this BBC story to one of my friends he was horrified, more horrified than when I tell him about Boko Haram and the countless human deaths from militant attempts at Sharia enforcement.

I was thinking once again how it is difficult to relate to mass murder, but somehow easier to be repulsed at animal abuse.