TAMPA, Fla. — Three manatees have returned to ZooTampa after receiving "successful rehabilitation" in Ohio, according to a press release from the facility.
Nolia, Waffles and Amethyst flew more than 1,000 miles to prepare for the release back into their native waters.
On Oct. 6 and 7, the three manatees were placed in custom-built containers on a DHL cargo plane, according to ZooTampa officials. They safely made it to Florida before Hurricane Milton and will now complete the final stages of their rehabilitation at the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center.
The trio was rescued back in January and February 2023 and were initially transported for treatment at ZooTampa, the press release stated. The three calves received "around-the-clock intensive care" before moving to Cincinnati Zoo's Manatee Springs in October 2023 for continued rehabilitation.
Zookeepers in Tampa will now care for all three manatees, who weigh a total of more than 2,000 pounds, as conservation work to save the species continues.
“As manatee continue to face hardships and critical care facilities operate close to capacity, these transfers are extremely important to make room for critically injured, ill and orphaned manatees,” ZooTampa President of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership Tiffany Burns said in a statement. “We are grateful to our partners in Ohio for providing secondary rehabilitation. It’s an incredible team effort and we are excited about the manatees’ return to Florida waters early next year."
ZooTampa’s David A. Straz, Jr. Critical Care Center has cared for almost 600 injured, sick and orphaned manatees, according to the press release.
