A manatee found exhausted on the shores of Redington Beach was rescued and taken into care last Thursday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and ZooTampa responded to the beaching incident after the adult female manatee exhibited signs of fatigue, potentially linked to recent mating activities. Reporting the rescue, WFLA noted the manatee was transported to ZooTampa for a complete medical evaluation.
In a statement obtained by FOX 13 News, Lisa Smith, an animal care supervisor at ZooTampa, described the scene, saying that the manatee was part of a breeding herd nearby, which likely led her to becoming exhausted. Weighing in at about 470 pounds, and no longer a calf, the manatee is old enough to be on her own, Smith explained, highlighting the norm of these marine mammals forming large mating herds during peak times.
Lethargic and breathing rapidly, the manatee exhibited signs of exhaustion, and also showed white patches of missing skin—a result of the mating process. Rescue personnel, including teams from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, assisted FWC in the rescue efforts. According to ABC Action News, although interventions in mating events are usually unnecessary, beached females that become unresponsive have lower survival chances without aid.
Following the recovery, the plan is to monitor the manatee in a critical care pool at ZooTampa where she has "easy access to food" and can rest. ZooTampa was cited by FOX 13 News reassuring that the manatee would be returned to her natural habitat after a satisfactory recovery. The populace was reminded to keep a safe distance from mating herds and to immediately report any beached or distressed manatees to the FWC hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
