Five Manatees Successfully Rehabilitated and Flown Back to Florida Facilities to Prepare for Return to Home Waters

Five Manatees Successfully Rehabilitated at Two Ohio Zoos

A significant milestone has been achieved as five manatees, rehabilitated over two years by four zoological and marine institutions, were flown back to Florida to continue their recovery journey.

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The manatees, all orphans, were transported in custom-built containers from Cincinnati International Airport to their temporary homes in Florida. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and SeaWorld Orlando have been collaborating on their rehabilitation.

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Dr. Joseph Gaspard, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando, emphasized the importance of manatee conservation and the partnership’s role in rescuing, rehabilitating, and returning these animals to their natural habitat. SeaWorld Orlando’s critical care facility is equipped to handle up to 60 manatees simultaneously, ensuring ample space for rehabilitation.

Two male manatees, Nighthawk and Mr. Dobak, were transferred from the Columbus Zoo to SeaWorld Orlando. They were rescued as orphaned calves in Charlotte County, Florida, in January 2023 and have made significant progress in their rehabilitation.

Three female manatees, Nolia, Amethyst, and Waffles, were moved from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to ZooTampa’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center. They were rescued earlier this year and received intensive care before being transferred to Cincinnati for continued rehabilitation.

DHL Express played a crucial role in transporting the manatees, ensuring their safety and comfort throughout the flight. The manatees were monitored closely by care specialists and provided with a comfortable environment during the journey.

While the manatees prepare to return to their native waters, the conservation efforts to protect this species continue. Six additional manatees were transported from Florida to Ohio for further rehabilitation.

The Columbus Zoo received three orphaned manatees, including Cobble, Clawford, and Sabal. They will join Stubby, a long-term resident who is unable to return to the wild due to injuries. The Cincinnati Zoo welcomed three new manatees, Lilypad, Orchid, and Vora, from SeaWorld Orlando.

The manatees were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP). The MRP is a collaborative effort involving various organizations working to conserve manatees.  

ZooTampa and SeaWorld Orlando provide critical care to injured manatees in Florida, while the Columbus and Cincinnati zoos serve as second-stage rehabilitation facilities. These zoos have a successful track record of rehabilitating and returning manatees to their natural habitat. Sounds like a happy ending to for these amazing creatures!

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