FWC rescues 2 manatees in 1 day
News Release
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Media contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459 (Palm Beach Co. rescue); Carli Segelson, 727-896-8626 (Pinellas Co. rescue)
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research
Institute were busy Thursday rescuing two injured manatees from the
east and west coasts. One manatee was rescued in Palm Beach
County; the other was rescued in Pinellas County.
FWC biologists and local law enforcement agencies
rescued an 8-foot male manatee with watercraft-related injuries
from a discharge canal at the Florida Power and Light power plant
in Riviera Beach in Palm Beach County. Biologists transported
the manatee to Miami Seaquarium for treatment and
rehabilitation.
In St. Petersburg, FWC biologists rescued a
juvenile female manatee from a canal. Rescuers pulled the nearly
7-foot female manatee from the 53-degree water. Prolonged exposure
to water of that temperature can lead to cold-stress syndrome and
ultimately death in manatees. Biologists took the manatee to
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.
To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the
FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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