Rehabilitated manatees prepare to head home

Waffles, one of the orphaned manatees, being transferred (Image courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando)

Five manatees were transported over 1,000 miles to their temporary homes in Florida which is a crucial conservation achievement that has been in the works for more than 2 years as 4 zoological and marine institution successfully rescue the 5 animals. To ensure their safe travels, they were placed into custom-built contains and driven to the Cincinnati International Airport at the DHL Express Global hub.

According to the organizational release,¹ the manatees will be heading to Florida to complete their rehabilitation before returned to the waters where they were first rescued. For the manatees rehabilitation, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and SeaWorld Orlando joined forces to rehabilitate these 5 orphans for years.

"For nearly 5 decades, we have been privileged to contribute to the conservation of manatees, a species that is essential to the health of our aquatic ecosystems. Our work, with the remarkable partners of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, has allowed us to play a key role in the rescue, rehabilitation, and return of these incredible animals that hold a special place in Florida's natural heritage,” explained Joseph Gaspard, PhD, vice president of zoological operations at SeaWorld Orlando and vice chair of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP).¹

“At our critical care facility at SeaWorld Orlando, we are equipped to care for up to 60 manatees simultaneously, providing a level of support that is rare in the United States. This facility, along with our ability to collaborate with other zoological institutions, allows us to transfer rehabilitating manatees when stable. By doing so, we ensure that valuable space is always available, maximizing our collective ability to safeguard the future of these remarkable creatures."

The 2 orphaned male manatees were brought to SeaWorld Orland from the Columbus Zoo after being rescued as calves from Charlotte County, Florida in January 2023. They were first observed in the same area alone but were presenting with declining body conditions. At the time of the rescue, both manatees were also still being bottle fed. Now, the orphaned manatees Nighthawk and Mr Dobak, currently weigh 678 and 497 lbs and are healthy and independent manatees.¹ The plan for Nighthawk and Mr Dobak is to continue receiving care at SeaWorld Orlando until they are released in either winter or early spring 2025.

Nighthawk (Image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)

The female manatees, Nolia, Amethyst, and Waffles left the Cincinatti Zoo & Botanical Garden and are heading to Zoo Tampa’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center. The 3 manatees were rescued January and February 2023 and were brought to ZooTampa for treatment where they received around-the-clock care intensive care for 10 months. The trio was then moved to the Cincinnati Zoo’s Manatee Springs in October 2023 to continue their rehabilitation journey.

"As manatees continue to face hardships and critical care facilities operate close to capacity, these transfers are extremely important to make room for critically injured, ill and orphaned manatees," said Tiffany Burns, ZooTampa's senior director of animal programs and president of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership.¹ "We are grateful to our partners in Ohio for providing secondary rehabilitation. It's an incredible team effort and we are excited about the manatees' return to Florida waters early next year."

The manatees were transported by DHL Express in custom-built, state of the art containers and were accompanied by a Columbus Zoo Animal Care curator to monitor their condition for the duration of the flight.¹ Each container was secured on palettes that were attached to the floor of the plane for stability. Each manatee was rested on an 8-inch thick bed of foam and were covered in wool and space blankets to maintain healthy body temperature. They were monitored also by specialists using laser thermometers and were misted with water under their blankets throughout the flight to keep their bodies moist.

The manatees were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission and the MRP. The Columbus and Cincinnati zoos are 2 of only 3 facilitates outside of Florida to provide care for manatees as well as serve as a second-stage rehabilitation facilities. The Columbus and Cincinnati zoo provide temporary homes, veterinary care, and food for manatees until they are cleared to return to the Florida waters.

"Manatee transfers are a testament of the dedication of the many organizations that make up the MRP and their unwavering commitment to save this amazing Florida species," Burns concluded.¹ "It requires extensive coordination and collaboration across stateliness. It truly takes a village to protect this threatened species. I am proud of the dedication of all those involved to ensure these animals return to their native waters."

All 5 manatees were also transferred prior to Hurricane Milton and arrived safely to their final destinations.

Reference

1. Five Manatees Successfully Rehabilitated at Two Ohio Zoos Flown Back to Florida Facilities to Prepare for Return to Home Waters. News release. SeaWorld Orlando. October 15, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-manatees-successfully-rehabilitated-at-two-ohio-zoos-flown-back-to-florida-facilities-to-prepare-for-return-to-home-waters-302276522.html