Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership coordinates big move
Rescued manatee Pippen in his new home in Cincinnati
Three orphaned manatees in need of rehabilitation, Pippen, Miles, and Matthew, were transported to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden from SeaWorld Orlando last week and are now swimming and receiving tender loving care in the Zoo’s Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Manatee Springs habitat. A fourth rescued orphan was sent to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The multi-institution moves represent collaborative efforts by participants of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), a program designed to rescue and treat sick, injured and orphaned manatees and then release them back into the wild.
The day before the new manatees arrived, popular manatees Betsy and BamBam left the Cincinnati Zoo to return to Florida waters. This is good news for the species, and the MRP, but bittersweet for divers, care team members and Zoo visitors who had become attached to the charismatic animals, especially long-time resident Betsy.
“Being part of the MRP is a huge undertaking. While we do get attached, we know that this is all part of a much bigger picture. Each time a manatee leaves, it means they are going back to the wild and that we’ve done our job,” said manatee care team member Lindsay Garrett. “It means that all of the time and effort was worth it. The wild population of manatees gets to add another member, and we can provide a home for another animal in need. It is no small feat to be a part of this, and I am proud that Cincinnati Zoo is doing something to give these animals a second chance.”
BamBam should get his second chance in early 2018. He’ll be cared for by manatee experts at SeaWorld Orlando, where he received critical care for severe cold stress after his 2015 rescue, until he’s ready to be released. He will be the 14th manatee to be released after being rehabilitated at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Betsy, a Cincinnati Zoo resident since 2010 and companion to nine rescued manatees during that time, returned to her birthplace, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, just in time to celebrate her 27th birthday! She is not considered a candidate for release and will be cared for at the park long term.
“The work that the MRP does for manatees cannot be overstated,” said Jon Peterson, manager of rescue operations for SeaWorld Orlando. “All of the groups involved play a key role in manatee conservation, whether it’s rescuing the animals, providing around the clock care for manatee calves in critical condition or providing a temporary home for juveniles until they have been deemed returnable, we’re all working together to give individual animals and the entire population a second chance to thrive.”
About the New Residents of Manatee Springs:
Matthew, Pippen and Miles in Manatee Springs
- Pippen (Male) was rescued from the Halifax River on 7/20/2016 weighing only 58 pounds. After receiving critical care at SeaWorld Orlando, his weight is now 225 pounds. He is the smallest manatee ever to live at Cincinnati Zoo’s Manatee Springs.
- Miles (Male) was rescued from the Sykes Creek on Merritt Island on 8/17/2016 and weighed only 43 pounds. After receiving critical care at Sea World Orlando, his weight is now 320 pounds.
- Matthew (Male) was rescued from New Smyrna on 10/9/2016, right after Hurricane Matthew. He weighed 56 pounds and is now up to 340 pounds.
About Columbus Zoo’s New Resident:
- Goober (Male) was rescued on 3/16/2017 from Desoto Canal in Indian Harbor Beach Florida. His weight was 220 pounds and his is now up to 345 pounds.
“We are extremely proud to be part of this conservation program and excited to welcome Pippen, Miles and Matthew to their new home in Cincinnati,” said Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. “There’s nothing better than being able to work with these amazing creatures and ultimately see them return to the wild.” The Zoo can still keep tabs on BamBam after he is released. He will be outfitted with a satellite tracking device so his health and wellbeing can be monitored by the MRP. Information about manatees currently being tracked is available at www.wildtracks.org.
The Sea Cow Shuffle:
With the help of DHL, the world’s leading logistics provider, the “Sea Cow Shuffle” began at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, when Betsy and BamBam were driven to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to board a flight to Florida accompanied by a manatee care specialist and a Zoo veterinarian.
At each airport, the manatee crates were placed in an open-top cargo crate that was locked into the cargo hold. The manatees were kept as far away from engine noise as possible while waiting to be loaded and their crates were loaded last, so that they could be unloaded first after arriving at their destination.
The same scenario happened in reverse at the other end, but the return flight included twice as many manatees. DHL flew the four small manatees to Cincinnati and the Columbus Zoo picked Goober up from the Cincinnati Zoo and drove him by truck back to their facility.
Collaborating to Save Species:
Cincinnati and Columbus Zoos and The Manatee Conservation Center of Puerto Rico are the only U.S. facilities outside of Florida to participate in the MRP, which began in 1973. They are second stage rehabilitation facilities that provide temporary homes for manatees until they are ready for release back into the wild. NOTE: The Puerto Rico facility was badly damaged by Hurricane Maria. They are asking for support to rebuild their veterinary clinic and laboratory so they can continue to provide care for their four resident manatees.
Since Manatee Springs opened in 1999, the Zoo has welcomed, with the arrival of new residents, 18 manatees.
The Florida manatee, recently downgraded from endangered to threatened, is at risk from both natural and man-made causes of injury and mortality. Exposure to red tide, cold stress, and disease are all natural problems that can affect manatees. Human-caused threats include boat strikes, crushing by flood gates or locks, and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear. As of 2016, the population was estimated to include 6,000 animals.
About the Cincinnati Zoo:
The world famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to inspiring visitors to care about wildlife and wild places. It has been rated the #1 attraction locally and one of the top zoos in the nation by Zagat Survey. It has also received rave reviews from Child Magazine, Parents Magazine, USA Today and TripAdvisor. Over 1.5 million people visit the Zoo’s award-winning exhibits, and more than 500 animal and 3000 plant species annually. The Zoo, an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), is internationally known for its success in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants and engages in research and conservation projects worldwide. Known as the #GreenestZooInAmerica, the Zoo is doing its part to conserve natural resources that are critical to saving wildlife and its habitats and is committed to greening its daily operations and reducing its impact on the environment through the use of rain gardens, recycled building materials, solar panels and more. The Cincinnati Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.