A mother and calf manatee are recovering at ZooTampa’s critical care center after spending months trapped in the Faka Union Canal in Port of the Islands.
The manatees were rescued last week during a large-scale operation involving more than 10 organizations.
Biologists believe the mother and her calf became stranded after swimming over a concrete weir during last year’s storm surges. Once water levels dropped, they were unable to return to open waters, leaving them stuck in the spillway for months.
The calf was first spotted more than 6 miles up the canal by a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Soon after, neighbors in the Port of the Islands community reported seeing both the calf and its mother in the same area, prompting the rescue.
Crews located the manatees and carefully brought them onboard a boat. While the calf appeared to be in good health, officials say the mother was emaciated.
Both were transported to ZooTampa’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, where they are now recovering together.
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