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Due to overcrowding at manatee critical care facilities (CCFs) like Zoo Tampa, Jacksonville Zoo, and SeaWorld, Orlando, the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation partnership (MRP) requested assistance due to the extremely high numbers of manatees needing rescuing this winter.
Approved facilities were asked to temporarily hold animals, which would relieve the overcrowding pressure, until rehabilitated animals could be released.
To answer the request, Zoo Miami partnered with local Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) to prepare a temporary holding pool. MARS loaned the pool to Zoo Miami to hold two young orphaned female manatees until they could be released or returned to the CCF once the overcrowding situation was resolved.
Zoo Miami joined the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) in the fall of 2023 as the first step in the zoo’s master plan for a future expansion, which is to include manatees. Many staff at Zoo Miami have previous experience working with manatees or are currently volunteering with partners in the MRP. Prior to the manatees arriving, the pool and filtration system were approved by the MRP, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and SeaWorld.
The two manatees were then delivered by SeaWorld to Zoo Miami on Jan. 15, where the dedicated animal care staff performed 24-hour observations to ensure the manatees were adapting to their new home. To have the best chance of a successful release, each manatee must meet a set of pre-determined measurements and pass a veterinarian exam, following strict guidelines outlined by the MRP.
At this time, the Chief of Animal Health for Zoo Miami, Dr. Gwen Myers, along with other MRP veterinarians concluded that these manatees do not meet the requirements for release, so they will be returned to SeaWorld until they meet the benchmarks for release.
SeaWorld is now able to house them due to a number of manatees being successfully rehabilitated and released recently.
Through the Zoo Miami Foundation, Truck Max donated the use of a truck to transport the two manatees back to SeaWorld, Orlando. Zoo Miami will continue to aid and support manatee rehabilitation and release as a part of the MRP. Zoo Miami is committed to conservation of animals in South Florida and across the globe.
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