Red tide is bad news for wildlife. One of its victims is recovering at Bradenton aquarium
Red tide has been lingering in Gulf of Mexico south of Manatee County, with Lee County having borne the brunt of it thus far.
Viva the manatee was showing signs of becoming ill from the Karenia brevis organism responsible for red tide, but she was rescued last month near Captiva Island and is recovering in Bradenton.
The 332-pound sea cow had been receiving direct care from ZooTampa, but arrived at the Bishop Museum’s Parker Manatee rehabilitation habitat on Tuesday for continuing rehabilitation.
Accompanying Viva is Collie, a 551-pound, 7-foot long female manatee who was rescued after she was hit by a boat in the Gordon River near Naples.
“It’s been a busy rescue season and we are fulfilling our role as a second stage rehabilitation facility for manatees,” said Virginia Edmonds, the museum’s director of animal care. “Accepting manatees like Viva and Collie along with two we received earlier this year from Seaworld, Felicia and Doscal, opens up space at critical care hospitals.”
Edmonds went on to say that the museum’s goa, “is to help manatees and support our rehabilitation partners. It’s what drives us every day.”
The two new arrivals makes 42 manatees the facility has rehabilitated since 1998. Viva and Collie will join Felicia and Doscal in the manatee habitat, which once housed the beloved Snooty, who was the world’s oldest living manatee until his untimely death in the summer of 2017.
Felicia was rescued in April with her mother, who was hit by a boat in the Ruskin Inlet. Doscal, the only male in the foursome, was found in April in an emaciated state in the Orange River in Lee County.
The fact that Viva and Collie are in Bradenton for rehabilitation is a good sign that they are on their way to a full recovery. The Bishop focuses on getting the animals back to an appropriate size and weight and ensures the healing process is complete before releasing the manatees back into the wild.
If you see an injured manatee, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s hot line at 888-404-3922 or dial *FWC on your cellphone.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 12:00 AM.