Recently, “Barber” the manatee became the 42nd rehabilitated manatee this year to be released back into his natural habitat by SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue team.
With the help of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Brevard Zoo, Barber was released at Round Island Riverside Park in Vero Beach in September, looking a lot better than when he was found.
The then-675-lb gentle giant was found floating unevenly near the Merrill P. Barber Bridge in Indian River County, the victim of a boat strike, according to a release from SeaWorld Orlando. Because of the damage, he couldn’t control his buoyancy or dive to feed properly.
He was taken to SeaWorld’s Rescue Center, where veterinarians and zoological specialists worked to stabilize his condition, treat his wounds, and restore his strength. In just eight weeks, Barber gained more than 150 pounds and regained his health.
“Seeing Barber return to the wild after all the effort that went into his care is the most rewarding part of what we do,” said Mallorie McCormick, Senior Zoological Specialist on SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team. “From monitoring his eating habits to resolving his boat-strike injuries, it takes a team effort across our rescue, veterinary, and lab departments. Watching him swim away healthy… that’s our ultimate success story.”
Since 1976, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued more than 1,000 manatees.
Manatees return to Blue Spring State Park
The record-breaking cold snap this week only lasted a few days, but it was long enough to attract at least 100 manatees Wednesday morning to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City.
The manatee population boom may be temporary, as temperatures are expected to rise again through the rest of the week.
November is Manatee Awareness Month
Manatees are regular visitors to many waterways in Florida (ours are a native subspecies of the West Indian manatee). They come here for the warm waters to swim, graze and sleep. Manatees are peaceful herbivores, averaging from 10 to 13 feet in length and weighing from 1,200 to 3,000 pounds, and they love to play and barrel roll and somersault in the water.
SeaWorld Orlando offers these tips on protecting manatees:
Note that it is illegal in Florida to feed, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy or molest manatees.
Touching a manatee is punishable under the Manatee Sanctuary Act, with a fine of up to $500 and/or a jail term of up to 60 days. If you abuse or harass the animal or your actions result in its injury or death, then the Federal Protection Laws may be applied with up to a $50,000 fine and/or up to 1 year imprisonment.
What should I do if I see a stranded manatee?
If you are aware of a stranded, trapped, injured or dead manatee, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife alert hotline at 888-404-3922 or dial *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone. Stranded manatees may need immediate medical attention from wildlife experts, the FWC said.
The FWC warns that people should not attempt to move a stranded manatee. If intervention is needed, the FWC has a network of partners that will work to release it on site or safely capture and transport the manatee to a critical care center for treatment.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Video shows ‘Barber’ the manatee released after recovery from boat strike
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
