Three Cold-Stunned Manatees @SeaWorld Orlando #WellDone #TeamWork

Manatees Returns to Blue Springs National Park

Two manatees receive their final check-ups before being returned to the waters at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Fla.

It is always great to hear of the recovery of the wildlife animals to their environment. Their survival is the ultimate gift of life for all those who participated and contributed to their recovery. We definately give credit and applaud all those medics and interns who aim to become great men and women in this field.



  This morning SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team and several other stranding agencies returned three manatees, a sub-adult female and two sub-adult males, to the waters of Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Fla., after receiving care and rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando for the last few months.

All three manatees were rescued from the St. Johns River in Jacksonville due to cold stress. “Sissy” was rescued on December 18, 2013, and “Bycatch” was rescued a week later on December 26, 2013, by the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team. A few weeks later, on January 5, 2014, “Wallace” was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Following their rescue, Sissy, Wallace, and Bycatch were transported to SeaWorld Orlando for medical care and rehabilitation. Over the past few months, they received treatment, including antibiotics, fluids and other supportive care. After being medically cleared for today’s return, the three manatees were transported by SeaWorld's Animal Rescue Team to Blue Spring State Park, a designated manatee sanctuary.

As of this morning, Sissy weighed 460 pounds and was 7 feet long, Wallace weighed 660 pounds and was nearly 8 feet long, and Bycatch weighed 775 pounds and measured just over 8 feet long.

So far in 2014, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued three and returned four manatees back to their natural environment. In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the waters. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 23,000 animals in need - ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned - for more than four decades.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team carries manatees toward the water at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Fla., where they were being returned after receiving care and rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando for the last few months

If you see injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) is a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities who work together to monitor the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees.  Information about manatees currently being tracked is available at www.wildtracks.org.

 Disclosure: I was provided with the information in this post by SeaWorld. No compensation was received.