SeaWorld Orlando Cares for Stranded Manatee

SeaWorld Orlando recently saved a manatee in the norther part of Florida. Take a look:

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SeaWorld Orlando Now Caring for Juvenile Female Manatee Rescued Near Jacksonville, Florida

The manatee was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission near the JEA power plant, and then transported to SeaWorld Orlando [last Friday's] afternoon. Estimated to be approximately seven feet in length and weighing around 600 pounds, the young manatee was rescued due to cold stress.

Upon arrival at SeaWorld Orlando, animal care experts took blood samples and gave the manatee antibiotics. Senior animal care specialist Jon Peterson said the animal seems to be doing well, but will be monitored closely during the next 24 hours.

SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to rescue, care for and return to the wild manatees, whales, sea turtles, birds and dolphins. Since the park’s rescue programs began, more than 20,000 animals have been rescued. So far in 2012, SeaWorld has rescued three and returned three manatees back to their natural habitat.

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Even though the weather has been beautiful here in the past few weeks, remember that manatees in general need to have very warm waters to thrive. The current temperature of the water near Jacksonville should also be a bit lower than the the temperature of the water near Cape Canaveral or Miami, for example.

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