Tiny manatee orphan in Florida rescued

A Florida manatee calf rescued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists Thursday is one of the smallest they have aided.

The diminutive female weighs only 50 pounds and measures just over 3 feet in length.

With no sign of the mother in the area, the orphaned calf was captured by members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Team from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

Unable to survive on her own because she is so young, the calf was taken to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and will receive 24-hour care from the zoo's manatee rehabilitation team.

No word on whether the young mammal will be released or kept at the zoo after fully recovering.

Spring is the beginning of the manatee calving season, so this orphan may be the first of many.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Comments

[Jon K.]

Manatees are really neat creatures. I wish they also lived off the California coast.