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The crews convened on the scene after a worker with Melbourne
Beach spotted the manatee, the city's Vice Mayor Terry Cronin
told WESH-TV in Orlando.
“We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across
Melbourne Beach. Our people were doing a survey. And one of the
surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a baffle box."
Cronin said.
The male manatee was taken to SeaWorld Orlando, where it is
being cared for in one of the park's medical pools, spokesperson
Stephanie Bechara said.
“He's breathing on his own, moving independently and showing
interest in food. Our teams are adjusting water levels to
support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care,” Bechara said.
She said they work to stabilize and rehabilitate rescued
manatees so they can ultimately be returned to the wild.
The protected species is still recovering from a mass starvation
event. In 2021, officials recorded more than 1,100 manatee
deaths, mostly caused by starvation. The state's fish and
wildlife agency said deaths have gone down significantly, with
565 deaths recorded in 2024, and 555 deaths in 2023.
Last year, SeaWorld Orlando rescued 56 manatees and has already
taken in seven this year.
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