ORLANDO,
Fla., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Five
manatees were flown more than 1,000 miles to their temporary homes
in Florida, marking a crucial
conservation achievement following over two years of successful
rescue efforts by four zoological and marine institutions.
In an intricate operation, the manatees were placed in
custom-built containers to help them travel safely and then driven
to the Cincinnati International
Airport at the DHL Express Global hub. All of the manatees
were loaded onto a specially scheduled DHL cargo plane to head to
Florida, where they will complete
the final stages of their rehabilitation journey before they return
to the waters where they were initially rescued.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical
Garden, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and SeaWorld Orlando have partnered
for several years to rehabilitate these five orphans.
"For nearly five decades, we have been privileged to contribute
to the conservation of manatees, a species that is essential to the
health of our aquatic ecosystems," explained Dr. Joseph Gaspard, Vice President of Zoological
Operations at SeaWorld Orlando and Vice Chair of the Manatee Rescue
& Rehabilitation Partnership. "Our work, with the remarkable
partners of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership,
has allowed us to play a key role in the rescue, rehabilitation,
and return of these incredible animals that hold a special place in
Florida's natural heritage. At our
critical care facility at SeaWorld Orlando, we are equipped to care
for up to 60 manatees simultaneously, providing a level of support
that is rare in the United States.
This facility, along with our ability to collaborate with other
zoological institutions, allows us to transfer rehabilitating
manatees when stable. By doing so, we ensure that valuable space is
always available, maximizing our collective ability to safeguard
the future of these remarkable creatures."
Two male orphaned manatees were transferred from the Columbus
Zoo to SeaWorld Orlando. Both were initially rescued as
orphaned calves from Charlotte County,
Florida on January 20, 2023.
They were observed in the same area alone with declining body
conditions, and at the time of rescue, they were still being bottle
fed. Since arriving at the Columbus Zoo in October 2023, Nighthawk and Mr. Dobak now weigh
678 pounds and 497 pounds respectively and are healthy, independent
manatees. They will continue to be cared for at SeaWorld Orlando
until they are released sometime this winter or early spring
2025.
Nolia, Amethyst, and Waffles, all females, left Cincinnati Zoo
& Botanical Garden and headed back to ZooTampa's David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care
Center. The trio was rescued in January and February 2023 and transported for treatment to
ZooTampa, which is home to the largest non-profit critical care
center in the United States. The
three calves received around-the-clock intensive care for
approximately 10 months before moving to Cincinnati Zoo's Manatee
Springs in October 2023 for continued
rehabilitation.
All of the manatees were moved prior to the arrival of Hurricane
Milton and arrived safely at their planned destinations.
"After a year of care, the trio has now reached their target
weight and are set to return to the waters of Florida" said Lindsay
Garrett, head keeper, North
America department at the Cincinnati Zoo. "Our job as a
second-stage rehabilitation facility is to provide plenty of food
and top-notch medical care. It's incredibly rewarding to see them
healthy and ready to return to their natural environment."
"As manatees continue to face hardships and critical care
facilities operate close to capacity, these transfers are extremely
important to make room for critically injured, ill and orphaned
manatees," said Tiffany Burns,
ZooTampa's senior director of animal programs and president of the
Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership. "We are grateful to
our partners in Ohio for providing
secondary rehabilitation. It's an incredible team effort and we are
excited about the manatees' return to Florida waters early next year."
DHL Express transported the manatees in custom-built,
state-of-the art containers, accompanied by a Columbus Zoo Animal
Care curator, who monitored the manatees' condition throughout the
flight.
The containers were secured on palettes attached to the floor of
the plane for stability. The manatees rested on a comfortable,
8-inch-thick bed of foam. They were covered in wool and space
blankets to maintain a healthy body temperature and constantly
monitored during the flight by care specialists using laser
thermometers. To keep their bodies moist, the animals were misted
with water under their blankets throughout the flight.
"Ensuring the safe transport of these manatees is a highly
complex process that requires meticulous planning and logistics to
prioritize their safety and comfort throughout the journey,"
said Laurice Bancroft, SVP Network Operations, DHL Express
Americas. "We are proud to play a key role in supporting the
conservation of endangered manatees, leveraging our team's
expertise to contribute to these crucial rescue and rehabilitation
efforts."
Yet, even as these manatees prepare to return to their native
waters, the conservation work to save manatees remains ongoing and
crucial. Accompanied by a Columbus Zoo veterinarian and Cincinnati
Zoo Animal Care team member, six young manatees traveled on the
return flight back to Ohio to
continue their rehabilitation.
The Columbus Zoo received three orphaned manatees—two females
and one male. Upon their arrival at the Zoo's Manatee Rescue and
Rehabilitation Center, they joined long-term resident and fan
favorite, Stubby. Due to Stubby's extensive injuries from a boat
strike, she is considered to be a conditionally non-releasable
animal. Her condition is evaluated every five years to determine if
she is ready or not to return to Florida, but it is unlikely that she will move
out of this category. Instead, she has often voluntarily assumed
the role of a surrogate mother looking after the other manatees.
Cobble, Clawford, and Sabal have quickly taken to Stubby, and
she already has a strong interest in them, showing the new arrivals
around the habitat.
"In partnership with SeaWorld Orlando, ZooTampa, Cincinnati
Zoo, and others, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is honored to join
forces through the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership
(MRP)," said Becky Ellsworth,
curator of the Columbus Zoo's Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation
Center. "Together, we provide expert care and rehabilitation for
these remarkable animals, tackling challenges in their natural
habitats. This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to
wildlife conservation but also enriches guest education, empowering
them to act for manatees and their ocean environments. By pooling
our expertise and resources, we ignite a conservation movement,
driving tangible results. As active MRP members, we're looking
forward to expanding our impact, safeguarding manatees and their
aquatic homes for future generations."
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden also welcomed three
new manatees, Lilypad, Orchid, and Vora, from SeaWorld Orlando. Vora
was rescued in October 2023 from
Pompano Beach, Florida, while
Lilypad was found in Salt Springs,
near Ocala, in December, and
Orchid was rescued in Crystal River in March
2024. Each calf weighed somewhere between 58-165 pounds at
the time of their respective rescues and were all severely
malnourished. After months of around-the-clock care at SeaWorld's
world-class critical care facility, the manatees will now continue
their rehabilitation in Cincinnati
until they reach an ideal weight for release back into their
natural habitats.
The manatees were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Manatee Rescue &
Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), a cooperative group of
non-profit, private, state, and federal entities who work together
to monitor the health and survival of manatees.
As part of the MRP, ZooTampa and SeaWorld Orlando provide
critical care, including urgent veterinary treatment, to injured
manatees in Florida. The
Columbus and Cincinnati zoos are two of only three
facilities outside of Florida to
care for manatees and serve as second-stage rehabilitation
facilities to provide temporary homes, food, and veterinary care
for manatees until they are ready to return back to Florida waters.
Including these manatees who recently left Ohio, the Columbus Zoo has returned 39
manatees to Florida, and the
Cincinnati Zoo has returned 27 for release and cared for 32. To
date, ZooTampa has treated more than 500 manatees, and
SeaWorld Orlando has helped rescue and rehabilitate over 990 while
coming to the aid of 45 manatees in 2024 alone.
Florida manatees are at risk
from natural and human-caused threats, including exposure to the
loss of sea grass, red tide, cold stress, disease, boat strikes,
crushing by flood gates or locks and entanglement or ingestion of
fishing gear.
"Manatee transfers are a testament of the dedication of the many
organizations that make up the MRP and their unwavering commitment
to save this amazing Florida
species," said Burns. "It requires extensive coordination and
collaboration across stateliness. It truly takes a village to
protect this threatened species. I am proud of the dedication of
all those involved to ensure these animals return to their native
waters."
Manatees that were transferred back to Florida to complete final stages of
rehabilitation
Manatee (from
Columbus Zoo)
|
Rescued
|
This Weekend (to
SeaWorld)
|
Mr. Dobak
(spelling variation of the
character from the movie "Step Brothers")
|
January 20, 2023
Rescued as an orphaned calf
from Charlotte County, Fla.
Weight: 174 pounds
|
Weight: 497
pounds
|
Nighthawk
|
January 20, 2023
Rescued alongside Mr. Dobak
from Charlotte County, Fla.
Weight: 180 pounds
|
Weight: 678
pounds
|
Manatee (from
Cincinnati Zoo)
|
Rescued
|
Today (to
ZooTampa)
|
Nolia
|
January 10, 2023
Rescued in Magnolia Springs/Citrus County, Fla.,
after suffering from cold stress
Weight: 148 pounds
|
Weight: 715
|
Waffles
|
January 27, 2023
Rescued with her mother in Port
of the Islands, Fla.
Weight: 185 pounds
|
Weight: 690
|
Amethyst
|
February 21, 2023
Rescued in Idiot's Delight
Spring-Kings Bay/Citrus
County, Fla.
Weight: 146
|
Weight: 605
|
Manatees sent back to Ohio
to continue rehabilitation
|
Manatee
(SeaWorld)
|
Rescued
|
Today (to Columbus
Zoo)
|
|
Cobble
(male)
|
February 15, 2024
Rescued as an orphaned calf at
Kings Bay in Crystal River, Fla.
Weight: 156 pounds
|
Weight: 360
pounds
|
|
Clawford
(female)
|
August 2, 2023
Rescued as an orphaned calf in
the Matanzas River in St. Augustine, Fla.
Weight: 59 pounds
|
Weight: 456
pounds
|
Manatee (from
ZooTampa)
|
Rescued
|
Today (to Columbus
Zoo)
|
Sabal
(female)
|
September 1, 2023
Rescued as an orphaned calf at
Boggy Bayou in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Weight: 79 pounds
|
Weight: 345
pounds
|
|
|
|
|
Manatee
(SeaWorld)
|
Rescued
|
Today (to Cincinnati
Zoo)
|
Lilypad
(female)
|
December 8, 2023
Rescued as an orphaned calf at
Salt Springs in Ocala, Fla.
Weight: 97 pounds
|
Weight: 296
pounds
|
Orchid
(female)
|
March 13, 2024
Rescued as an orphaned calf in
Crystal River, Fla.
Weight: 165 pounds
|
Weight: 420
pounds
|
Vora
(female)
|
October 2, 2023
Rescued as an orphaned calf
near Pompano Beach, Fla.
Weight: 58 pounds
|
Weight: 282
pounds
|
About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than
10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on
people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a
recreational and educational destination that includes the 22-acre
Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus
Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation
center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation
organization with regional, national and global impact, annually
supporting conservation and research projects locally and
worldwide. For more information, please visit
ColumbusZoo.org.
Media Contacts: Nicolle Gómez Racey,
nicolle.racey@columbuszoo.org
Jen Fields, jen.fields@columbuszoo.org
About ZooTampa at Lowry Park
ZooTampa at
Lowry Park is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an
independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to
excellence in conservation, education, and research. The Zoo, an
accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
for over 30 years, is recognized as Florida's leading and most attended zoological
cultural attraction. ZooTampa and its David
A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, were voted among
the "Best Zoos" and "Best Zoo Exhibits" in USA TODAY 10Best
Readers' Choice Travel Awards. The Zoo is also a twelve-time winner
of the Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award (2010-2023), ranking it
among the top 10% of attractions worldwide. ZooTampa is a
nationally recognized leader in the rehabilitation and care of
Florida
species. ZooTampa is one of only 3 places in the United States that can take in critically
injured and sick manatees and one of only two facilities that can
care for orphaned calves. Through its ZT Saves conservation
initiative, ZooTampa provides support to local and global
conservation programs that are positioned at the forefront of
species survival. The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue
in Tampa and is open seven days a
week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours for
select events. For more information, visit www.zootampa.org or
follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.
Media Contact: Sandra Morrison,
Sandra.Morrison@ZooTampa.org
About Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The
world-famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to
inspiring visitors to care about wildlife and wild places. It was
voted the #1 Best Zoo and the #1 Best Botanical Garden in USA TODAY
reader polls and has also received rave reviews from Child
Magazine, Parents Magazine, Newsweek, and TripAdvisor. Over 1.8
million people visit the Zoo's award-winning habitats, 400 animal
and 3000 plant species annually. The Zoo, an accredited member of
the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for more than 30
years, is internationally known for its success in the protection
and propagation of endangered animals and plants and engages
in research and conservation projects worldwide. Known as the
#GreenestZooInAmerica, the Zoo is doing its part to conserve
natural resources that are critical to saving wildlife and its
habitats and is committed to greening its daily operations and
reducing its impact on the environment with rain gardens, recycled
building materials, solar panels and more. The Cincinnati Zoo is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit
us at CincinnatiZoo.org.
Media Contact: Michelle Curley,
michelle.curley@cincinnatizoo.org
About SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a leading marine life
theme park and accredited zoo and aquarium that provides
experiences that matter while educating and inspiring guests of all
ages to care about marine life. Welcoming millions of guests every
year, the parks offer fun and enriching experiences from up-close
animal encounters and year-round educational programs to
award-winning marine-life-themed rides and attractions, special
events, and exciting entertainment. For more than 60 years SeaWorld
has advanced the conservation of marine life in and outside its
parks through science, education, and exceptional animal care that
is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the
Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal
rescue organizations in the world, helping more than 41,000 animals
to date. The SeaWorld Conservation Fund, a non-profit foundation
established in 2003, has provided more than $20 million to nearly 1,400 organizations to
advance critical research on every continent. A portion of
park proceeds goes toward supporting these longstanding
conservation commitments. SeaWorld parks are in Orlando, San
Antonio, San Diego, and
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
(UAE). SeaWorld is part of the United Parks & Resorts Inc.
(NYSE:PRKS) portfolio of theme park brands. For more information,
visit us at SeaWorld.com.
Media Contact: swo-pr@seaworld.com
About DHL
DHL – The logistics company
for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry.
Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics
services ranging from national and international parcel delivery,
e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international
express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain
management. With about 395,000 employees in more than 220 countries
and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses
securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows.
With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries
including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering,
manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is
decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the
world". DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues
of more than 81.8 billion euros in
2023. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to
society and the environment, the Group makes a positive
contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero
emissions logistics by 2050.
Media Contact: Robert Mintz,
robert.mintz@dhl.com
About the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership
(MRP)
The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership
(MRP) is a group of non-profit, private, state, and federal
entities dedicated to advancing manatee conservation through
collaborative partnership. MRP partners participate in the rescue,
rehabilitation, release, and post-release monitoring of manatees.
This network of institutions includes acute care facilities that
provide treatment to orphaned, sick, and injured manatees with the
hope of one day returning them to the wild. MRP researchers collect
invaluable data through manatee monitoring efforts to improve the
understanding of manatee biology and health. By partnering
cooperatively, MRP members work to promote stewardship and
financial support of manatee conservation efforts through public
education. For more information, visit us at manateerescue.org
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-manatees-successfully-rehabilitated-at-two-ohio-zoos-flown-back-to-florida-facilities-to-prepare-for-return-to-home-waters-302276522.html
SOURCE SeaWorld Orlando