ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld has three new manatees joining its rehabilitation area thanks to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Earlier this week, the FWC responded to manatee reports in New Smyrna Beach, Titusville and Marathon.
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In New Smyrna Beach, the FWC received a report of two manatees washed ashore. One manatee swam away into the tide as it came in, while the other was found with a fishing line wrapped around its flipper, according to a tweet released by the FWC on Thursday.
Recently, @SeaWorld and our staff responded to a report of two beached manatees near New Smyrna Beach. One of the beached manatees had a monofilament entanglement on its flipper and was taken to SeaWorld for rehabilitation and care. pic.twitter.com/f4KHT6SS9j
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) September 12, 2024
Within less than four hours, the FWC tweeted their response to a report of a floating manatee with a watercraft wound near Titusville.
Earlier this week, our team, @SeaWorld, @BrevardZoo, and @CMAquarium responded to a report of an excessively buoyant manatee with a watercraft wound near Titusville. The manatee was successfully rescued and taken to @SeaWorld for rehabilitation. pic.twitter.com/A5gtnUiV9E
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) September 12, 2024
On Wednesday, the FWC rescue team was in the Florida Keys when a report of an orphaned manatee calf was called in.
Recently, our team responded to a report of an orphaned manatee calf near marathon. The manatee was successfully rescued and taken to @SeaWorld for care. pic.twitter.com/dg6qCTrVhg
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) September 11, 2024
All three of the rescued manatees were taken to SeaWorld’s Manatee Rehabilitation Area for care where they can recover and eventually return to their natural habitat in the wild.
The facility is a part of SeaWorld’s five-acre Rescue Center dedicated to rehabilitating ill, injured or orphaned wildlife. Guests can view the manatee facility at the park to see how animals are affected by human activity and how to help curb the effects.
SeaWorld’s efforts aren’t limited to manatees. The Rescue Center also cares for sea turtles, birds and other marine animals. According to their website, Sea World reports saving over 41,000 animals since the beginning of it’s initiative in 1965. Over 800 of the rescued animals were manatees.
If you spot a sick, injured or deceased manatee near you, the FWC asks that you report it to their Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
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