‘Melby’s back where he once belonged, after getting stuck where he didn’t belong.
Rescuers released the juvenile male manatee dubbed “Melby” Tuesday, April 7, at Ballard Park, fully recovered after his life ‘went down the drain’ Feb. 9, when he got caught in a storm sewer pipe in Melbourne Beach.
About 100 onlookers cheered Melby on as he was released back into the Indian River, some holding signs of encouragement: “Welcome Home, Melby! Thanks to SeaWorld!”
Melby mended at SeaWorld in Orlando, after unknown hours trapped in a Melbourne Beach storm drain this past February.
Florida wildlife officials say it was a quick call from the public to a wildlife hotline and a fast response from local, state and federal agencies that saved Melby.
Firefighters, multiple agencies step up to save ‘Melby’
Just after 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, Brevard firefighters helped to excavate and remove Melby from a storm drain with the help of multiple partners.
Melby measured about seven feet in length and weighed about 410 pounds. Rescue workers from several agencies, including Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Brevard County Fire Rescue and others, converged on Neptune Drive in the beachside community to extract the manatee.
Initial health assessments noted the manatee was underweight and had multiple open wounds on the underside near the tail and flippers.
FWC can’t say for sure if cold drove Melby down the drain but that’s the most likely reason.
The manatee was pulled from the underground baffle box after utility workers dug through several feet of concrete to reach the trapped mammal.
Workers continued their efforts for several hours as the nighttime chill descended on the area. Heavy equipment was brought in to slice into the roadway and remove the drain lid as lights glared.
A tow truck lifted Melby out of the drain.
It was not immediately known how or when the manatee — a native, threatened Florida species which lives in many of the state’s waterways — wandered into the storm drain.
The rescue drew attention from residents along with media, even with efforts to pull Melby from the drain being livestreamed on YouTube. Manatees are typically drawn to warmer waters during the winter.
The Rotary Club has set up a GoFundMe to offset the cost of Melby’s rehabilitation and release, fund manatee stormwater pipe protection, and provide lagoon stewardship to protect manatee habitats. So far, the GoFundMe site says the effort has raised $1,482 of $16,000.
“Melby’s rescue wasn’t just a wildlife incident — it was a moment that reminded our entire town what we stand for,” said Melbourne Beach Commissioner Anna Butler,” said in a statement on the GoFundMe site. “People lined the street cheering as he was lifted to safety. Now we have the chance to finish what we started and help bring him home.”
Commissioner Terry Cronin added, “His successful rescue is the Melbourne Beach miracle. Our community is united in their love for Melby the manatee.”
If you see a sick, stranded or dead manatee
If you see an injured, distressed, or dead manatee, or any wildlife in need of assistance, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Your call may save an animal’s life.
Jim Waymer covers environment and local government. Contact him at (321) 261-5903 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com. Follow him on X at @JWayEnviro.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melby the manatee released after dramatic storm drain rescue
Reporting by Jim Waymer, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
