Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens had been caring for five manatees at the Manatee Critical Care Center – the highest number of the animals that have been housed in the facility at the same time – and celebrated their successful release at Blue Spring State Park last week.
Females Amelia and Irma were released Monday, Feb. 15, after spending almost a year at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. They were rescued in 2017 as orphaned calves and first taken to SeaWorld Orlando.
Orphaned manatees need to be large enough before they can return to the wild, so Amelia and Irma came to Jacksonville on Feb. 20, 2020, to continue their development.
Three males were released at Blue Spring on Tuesday, Feb. 16, each coming to the zoo this winter to be treated for symptoms of cold stress, including skin lesions and dehydration. When manatees spend too much time in water colder than 68 degrees, cold stress starts to occur and will affect many organ systems.
Manatees migrate to warm water sources in the winter, such as springs and powerplant discharges, but they sometimes become entrapped in areas with cold water and may not make it to the warmer water.
Two of the males were rescued in Merritt Island on Dec. 29 and Jan. 11. The third was rescued in the Ortega River in Jacksonville on Jan. 18.
The releases at Blue Spring were assisted by the zoo’s partners in the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Save the Manatee Club and Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. Staff from Blue Spring and the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team also provided help.
Each manatee was outfitted with a satellite tag and will be monitored to ensure they are adapting in the wild and staying in the warm water.
“Releasing these animals not only marks the successful rehabilitation of five more manatees, it also frees up critical space so additional manatees can be treated at our zoo,” said Craig Miller, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens curator of mammals. “This has been a tough winter for manatees, so we hope we can help a few more with our partners ... It truly takes a team to protect this threatened species and I could not be prouder of the dedication of all those involved with this program.”
To report an injured marine mammal, call the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or dial *FWC on a cellular device.
