A 410-pound manatee rescued from a Florida storm drain is now recovering at SeaWorld Orlando after crews pulled the massive animal to safety.
The adult male was discovered trapped inside a storm drain in Melbourne Beach after a worker spotted the large creature. Following the report, rescue teams spent hours carefully removing the nearly 7-foot sea cow before transporting him to SeaWorld’s rehabilitation facility.
According to The Associated Press, the manatee is currently stable and under close observation as specialists begin the recovery process.
Manatee is now recovering at SeaWorld
Once the manatee has recovered, carers aim to release the animal back to the wild. SeaWorld Orlando spokesperson Stephanie Bechara provided the following update on the animal’s condition:
“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,” she said.
As for how the male manatee was discovered, Vice Mayor Terry Cronin shed some light on the surprising blockage.
“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,” he said.
The rescue involved multiple departments, including fire crews and wildlife experts, all of which worked together to free the manatee. Officials will continue monitoring the animal while it makes its recovery.
