Manatee found in Tennessee river

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officials concede they have limited experience with manatees.

When one was spotted in the Wolf River harbor at Memphis yesterday, TWRA called on Florida game officials for advice.

Tennessee wildlife agent Andy Tweed says he got a call yesterday afternoon that there was either a hippo or a manatee in the river. Memphis Zoo specialists were called in and confirmed the animal is a manatee -- a large, gentle creature that eats vegetation.

Manatees generally prefer the warm coastal waters of around Florida, but have been spotted as far north as Rhode Island. This one is about 725 miles upriver from the Gulf of Mexico.

TWRA is restricting boat traffic in the harbor and is working with Florida officials on what to do next.