SeaWorld animal care specialists are a little bleary-eyed this week as they provide 24-hour care for a weeks-old, baby manatee. Orphaned by her mother, the female calf arrived at the park’s rehabilitation center on July 24 after being rescued from the waters of Daytona Beach, Fla.
SeaWorld Animal Care Specialist Jeff Braso bottle-feeds the baby manatee at the park's Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
Every three hours the 3½-foot and 41-pound orphan is bottled-fed with the park’s nutrient-rich baby formula that promotes weight gain. Her weight is taken every other day as animal care specialists closely monitor her progress. She remains in guarded condition and park veterinarians hope to eventually return her back to the wild.
The animal was transported to SeaWorld by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
SeaWorld is the global leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees. The park’s Animal Rescue Team is on call 365 days a year and 24 hours a day.
-- SeaWorld --
Submitted by gregorysmith on Tue, 2010-07-27 15:41
Sea World rocks! Went to the one in San Deigo, and fell in love with these manatees. Thank you for opening the world's eyes to this awsome creature!
Submitted by Prehensile (not verified) on Fri, 2010-08-06 18:46.
I went to SeaWorld today and asked the educators how the baby manatee was doing.
She is gaining weight and eating well.
Thank you SeaWorld for going the extra mile in helping wildlife that we all enjoy.
Submitted by Iguana (not verified) on Sun, 2010-08-01 13:22.
Will be at Sea World Orlando in 6 days. Love the manatees. Great work Sea World, Hope she does well.
Submitted by Kim (not verified) on Thu, 2010-07-29 23:51.
awwwwww the manatee is soooooo super cute SeaWorld is the best!!!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2010-07-29 08:45.
SW's efforts to support our wild sea animals is outstanding. I can't wait for updates on how this little one is progressing and hope we see the day when she can return to where she was intended to be. One thing I would wonder is why she was abandoned by her mama - do we have any information on that at all?
Submitted by Michelle from Orlando (not verified) on Wed, 2010-07-28 19:07.
What an adorable little baby! Good work SeaWorld!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2010-07-28 13:46.
Great work on rehabilitating the animals in need. Keep up your hard work, and know that there are many of us who want to see the manatees in the wild, where they thrive the best.
Submitted by J Harris (not verified) on Wed, 2010-07-28 11:16.
Please little lady, you can make it. These are the best humans helping you. Little lady you are a gem.
SW you are the best.
Submitted by Iguana (not verified) on Tue, 2010-07-27 21:32.
My heart swells with Love. What a beautiful baby!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2010-07-27 19:35.
I am glad to see SeaWorld continue with wildlife conservation and rescues after the ownership has changed several times.
If the animals could speak they would say – “thanks”…
Submitted by Brian from RI (not verified) on Tue, 2010-07-27 17:04.