The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), in collaboration with SeaWorld Orlando and six other zoological and manatee care organizations, released five orphaned manatees to Blue Spring State Park in Florida after a years-long journey of rehabilitation by multiple members of the partnership, according to a news release.
MRP is a cooperative group of nonprofit, private, state and federal entities who work together to rescue, rehabilitate, release, and monitor sick and injured manatees. The manatees originally were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and MRP Partners between 2020 and 2021.
Every animal returned will be fitted with a GPS tracking device that will allow researchers the ability to monitor their movements and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year.
Manatees that were transferred back to Florida waters are:
- Squirrel: originally weighed 116 pounds and was released at 960 pounds
- Lizzie: 63 pounds, released at 855 pounds
- MaryKate: 107 pounds, released at 815 pounds
- Clank: 128 pounds, released at 725 pounds
- TinkTank: 124 pounds, released at 840 pounds
Published February 21, 2024
