First Cold Stressed Manatee Of 2019 Arrives At SeaWorld Orlando
You might be facing dangerously cold temperatures this week, but us humans aren’t the only ones affected by the dropping temperatures. Rescue teams in Florida are starting to see the effects of low water temperatures on the state’s manatee population.
Late yesterday, a 725 lb. sub-adult male manatee arrived at SeaWorld Orlando’s critical care animal hospital. The manatee was suffering from symptoms of cold stress, including abbesses and dehydration. He was rescued in Lake Griffin near Eustis, Florida by Florida Fish and Wildlife, Sea2Shore and a local chapter of the Save the Manatee Club. Once at the park, veterinarians started medical treatment and rehabilitation including antibiotics, fluids and other supportive care.
“Our goal for this rescued manatee is to continue to rehabilitate him here at SeaWorld, and return him to the wild when water temperatures warm up,” said Jon Peterson, SeaWorld Orlando’s manager of rescue operations.
Last year, the SeaWorld Rescue team assisted with a record number of 72 manatees suffering from a variety of aliments including cold stress, red tide and entanglement. The park works with the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership to monitor the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team is on call 24/7 to save and care for injured, orphaned or ill animals. In collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs authorized to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 31,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than five decades.
For more information on SeaWorld rehabilitation, visit the official SeaWorld Cares website by clicking here.
For more information, visit the official SeaWorld Orlando website by clicking here.
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