Despite a recent warm-up, manatees are still feeling the chill from Florida's unseasonably cold and extended winter. SeaWorld Orlando's Animal Rescue Team rescued a young female manatee suffering from cold stress on March 9. This was the park's 11th cold-stress related manatee rescue this year. The approximately five-foot-long sea cow was rescued from a canal near Satellite Beach, Fla.
The animal remains in guarded condition at SeaWorld's Manatee Rehabilitation Center, where she will be treated by park veterinarians and animal care specialists in hopes of releasing her back to nature. Cold stress can occur when manatees spend an extended period of time in water that dips below 60 degrees.
SeaWorld is the global leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees. The park's Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Team is on call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. SeaWorld has released seven manatees this year.
