3 manatees released into the wild after rehabilitating at Bradenton’s Bishop Museum
Three female manatees that had been rehabilitating at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature were released into the wild last week, the museum said Monday.
The manatees, all female, had been rescued and medically treated for cold stress syndrome at the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat.
They were released Feb. 17 at the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, where many manatees typically gather in the winter because of warm waters near the power plant.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tampa Electric, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory and ZooTampa at Lowry Park all assisted in the release.
“It was great being able to return Aria, Janus, and Iclyn back to the wild,” Virginia Edmonds, director of Animal Care for The Bishop, said in a news release. “We have reached the goal we share for every rescued manatee, help them recover and return them home.”
Aria, the youngest of the freed manatees, was fitted with a satellite-linked transmitter, allowing researchers and biologists to track her health and movements.
The public can also track her progression online at www.ManateeRescue.org.
The Bishop’s manatee habitat will undergo routine maintenance before new manatees are transferred from one of the three critical care centers, the museum said.
This story was originally published February 20, 2023 at 4:54 PM.
