Entangled manatee rescued and returned to wild
News Release
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Media contact: Carli Segelson, 727-896-8626
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research
Institute rescued a female manatee at the Safety Harbor Pier in the
Tampa Bay area on Wednesday.
Biologists captured the animal to remove a rope
wrapped around the manatee's right flipper. A crab trap was still
hanging from the end of the rope. If left untreated, the
entanglement could have led to the loss of the flipper and other
complications.
FWC manatee biologists removed the entangled rope
from the flipper and treated the wound. Upon examining the manatee,
biologists determined it was healthy enough to return to the wild
immediately.
Biologists learned of the troubled manatee earlier
in the day through a tip to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline.
Information provided by a concerned resident led biologists to the
animal. Once they located it, biologists tracked the manatee's
movements until the full rescue team arrived at the scene.
To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the
FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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