This morning SeaWorld Orlando’s animal care team traveled to Satellite Beach, Fla., a warm-water site, to release two manatees into a side canal off of the Banana River. Both animals were rescued and transported to SeaWorld Orlando last winter by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), who was also on-site assisting with today’s release.
Mud Puppy, a 765-pound manatee, was rescued from the Indian River in Indialantic,Fla. in January 2011. Bodacious, an 800-pound manatee was rescued from the San Sebastian River in Sebastian, Fla. in February of 2011. Both were rescued due to cold stress.
During their first week at SeaWorld Orlando, the animals received supportive care with antibiotic treatments and were tube-fed fluids to keep them hydrated. During the rest of their rehabilitation, the manatees were well fed and monitored until their release today.
Part of the release process is to mark the animals with their initials on-site, so they can be seen swimming in the canal waters after being released. Jackie Ludeman of FWC is seen here marking Bodacious with non-toxic paint.
For 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need -- ill, injured and orphaned. More than 20,000 animals have been rescued by our experts. SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Last year alone, SeaWorld rescued 19 and released 16 manatees.
