In fact, dozens of manatees have been carefully returned to the warm waters there. In one day alone, a record seven manatees were released!
The following are some of the “celebri-tees” that have been carefully released back into the warm and welcoming waters around the Manatee Viewing Center.
Meet Vamo and Burrger
Two young, rehabbed manatees became the latest “celebri-tees” to enter the warm waters around our Manatee Viewing Center. On January 30, 2024, the two began their new lives and joined the hundreds of manatees already in the canal.
The paparazzi (or fan-atees) cheered as the now-healthy manatees were gently released back into the wild.
Vamo was released first. The male manatee was found emaciated in Little Sarasota Bay, weighing 260 pounds and measuring about 6 feet long at the time of his rescue. Vamo was transported to ZooTampa for care and transferred to Georgia Aquarium for continued rehabilitation. When released he was more than 7 feet long and weighed 600 pounds. Seagrass is very important to a manatee's weight and is their main food source. Read about our “water hack” that is helping to increase their favorite snack.
After Vamo, it was Burrger's turn. Burrger was rescued for cold stress in Tampa Bay. Cold stress is usually observed in smaller manatees during the winter season when the water temperature is less than 68 degrees. Manatees with cold stress typically have bleaching on their skin, visible abscesses, unresolved sores, a heavy barnacle or algae load, and are underweight. When rescued, Burrger was about 6 feet long and weighed 319 pounds. Like Vamo, Burrger was transported to ZooTampa for care and transferred to Georgia Aquarium for continued rehabilitation. When released, he was more than 7 feet long and weighed 600 pounds.
Both manatees will be monitored by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute.
Meet Pebbles
Pebbles was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in February 2021. She was suffering from boat strike wounds, cold stress and malnutrition. She weighed just 390 pounds when she was rescued. After almost two years of care at ZooTampa she is now a healthy 915 pounds! She was released into the warm, welcoming waters of our Manatee Viewing Center on January 10, 2023.
Meet Corduroy
Corduroy was rescued in St. Petersburg with head trauma and a propeller wound across his face. Fortunately, he survived the initial injury but was left with neurologic issues and multiple skull fractures. When he first arrived at ZooTampa, he was monitored closely and tube-fed daily. He made a remarkable recovery and is getting a second chance after a complete resolution of his neurologic issues and the healing of his skull fractures. Corduroy was released on January 10, 2023 at the Manatee Viewing Center.
Meet Keeks
Keeks was a tiny, orphaned calf rescued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2018 near Clearwater, FL. She was about 100cm long and estimated to be days old at the time of rescue. After about three years of care at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, she was released at the Manatee Viewing Center on February 15, 2022.
Meet Truffleshuffle
Truffleshuffle was one of seven manatees released at the Manatee Viewing Center on February 15, 2021 – a record day! The 580-pound male manatee was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as an orphaned calf in Largo in November of 2018. He weighed just 205 pounds at the time of his rescue, and was sent to SeaWorld for care. He is being monitored by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute via GPS tag and doing great!
Meet Ozzy
Ozzy is a 650-pound manatee released at the Manatee Viewing Center in December. He was suffering from red tide exposure when rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and rehabilitated at SeaWorld. True to his rock n’ roll namesake, he got lots of cheers when he was returned to his native waters. Rock on, Ozzy!
Meet Chandler
Chandler is a 700-pound manatee rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and rehabilitated at ZooTampa’s David A. Starz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center. At the time of his rescue, Chandler weighed 490 pounds and was suffering from cold stress. Considered an inexperienced juvenile due to his age and size, he was released at the Manatee Viewing Center in January, where he’ll learn how to migrate from the warm water sanctuary as temperatures rise.
Meet Baylo
Baylo was suffering from red tide exposure when she was rescued in St. Petersburg by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The 600-pound manatee was rehabilitated at ZooTampa’s David A. Starz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center and returned to her native waters at the Manatee Viewing Center in December of 2021.
Meet Rubble
Rubble is a 600-pound female manatee rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and ZooTampa last February. She was suffering from cold stress in the Rocky Creek area of Tampa. Rubble was rehabilitated at “The Seas with Nemo & Friends” attraction at Epcot. After a year of care she returned to her native waters at the Manatee Viewing Center in February.
You can help prevent manatees from needing rescue. When boating, be sure to follow slow and no wake zone signs, stay out of seagrass beds, and wear polarized sunglasses to make it easier to see manatees. Correctly dispose of monofilament line and trash as manatees are curious and can get entangled. Cut back on your usage of fertilizer and fix leaking septic tanks to reduce nutrients from entering our waterways, which can lead to algae blooms that harm manatees and other marine life.
If you see an injured manatee, please call the FWC hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
