PORT ARANSAS, Texas - A rare wildlife encounter with a West Indian manatee and an environmentally-aware crew temporarily halted a $64 million ferry project on the Texas Gulf Coast this summer .

"TxDOT crews knew what to do when they saw the majestic sea cow swimming nearby," according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

The project upgrading ramps and landings for the Port Aransas ferry system, was stopped immediately when construction crews saw the endangered and federally protected manatee near the job site.

Texas DOT officials said the manatee , which was not in distress, lingered for several hours near the ferry operations before heading west toward Corpus Christi Bay. After the manatee moved out of the area, construction resumed.

FLORIDA SEES HIGHEST MAN

See Full Page