Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, partnered with other wildlife organizations over the week-end to rescue several manatees. Teams from the state’s manatee rescue network attempted to rescue 10 animals from different locations across the state, which were in varying degrees of distress.
Most of the animals rescued showed signs of manatee cold-stress syndrome, a condition which can result in death if there is exposure to water temperatures below 68 degrees for long periods. Florida has had cold snaps over the last few weeks that lasting several days.
Two juvenile manatees showing signs of cold stress were rescued last Saturday, one in St. Petersburg and the other in Bradenton. Both animals were taken to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for rehabilitation.
Biologists continued their rescue efforts on Sunday and again, yesterday. A juvenile manatee with watercraft-related injuries and an adult female manatee with similar injuries in the Fort Pierce area were rescued by FWC biologists. A manatee stuck in a storm drain in Vero Beach was rescued and was able to swim away once safely out of the drain.
FWC reports that while several rescues were successful, given the challenging nature of the manatee rescue operations, three manatees in poor condition did not survive, despite the heroic efforts of biologists.
