Manatee rehabilitation in Homosassa Springs

Homosassa Springs, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Four manatees are continuing their rehabilitation after a harsh winter in Central Florida.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protections Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Program (Rehab Program) partners, recently received four manatees from Miami Seaquarium and Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo for continued rehabilitation.

Two of the latest installments of rehabilitation were brought to the park because of cold-stress. A 300-pound orphan manatee named Crystal, was rescued from a chilly Crystal River and UPC, a male weighing about 800 pounds, was rescued from Wakulla Springs in 2008.

An unnamed 300-pound male was also rescued from the Crystal River after ingesting fishing line and Big Brother, a 1,165-pound male, was rescued from Three Sisters Spring in the Crystal River with respiratory issues. All four manatees are said to be doing well in their new home. "Homosassa Springs is proud to be working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of these manatees," said DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Bob Ballard in a press release. "By having these manatees at the park, visitors are able to learn more about these gentle creatures."

By moving these manatees to Homosassa Springs, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo has been able to use that space for treating more manatees requiring critical care. "Freeing up space at the critical care facilities in Florida is especially important this year due to the impacts the recent extreme cold temperatures have had on the manatee population," said Dave Hankla, field supervisor for the FWS North Florida office in Jacksonville. "We appreciate Homosassa Springs' willingness to take animals a little ahead of our original plans."
Homosassa Springs has been a Rehab Program partner for more than twenty years and has rehabilitated and released a number of manatees back into the wild, Hankla said.