Rescued Manatee Returned to Florida Waters by SeaWorld Team.

[Stu]

One of the most severe manatee rescue cases experts have seen had a happy ending last month when Lagoona, a juvenile manatee, was returned to Florida waters after more than a year in intensive rehabilitation.

Lagoona's recovery was nothing short of miraculous. When SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team, along with partners from the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), rescued Lagoona in May 2017, she was swimming in circles after suffering life-threatening boat strikes to the head and neck. She was deemed a critical case and brought to SeaWorld Orlando’s Manatee Rehabilitation Area for evaluation, as the park is one of only four critical care facilities for threatened manatees in the state of Florida.



Lagoona’s case was one of the worst members of the partnership had seen triaging for one of the most threatened marine mammals in the country. Watercraft strikes are one of the most common causes of injury and death for the species, but manatees like Lagoona also face a range of threats beyond boat strikes – such as cold stress, red tide, entanglement, entrapment and habitat loss. SeaWorld has rescued 41 manatees in 2018 alone and 667 manatees since 1979, and many of these rescues have resulted from collaborations with partners like those in MRP.

Thankfully for Lagoona, SeaWorld Orlando and its partners were able to swiftly provide the intensive care that she needed. SeaWorld Orlando is a recognized critical care facility, due to its extensive resources and equipment to care for injured manatees – including lifting floors in medical pools, designated stranding pools and medical pools, and medical advances such as manatee feeding formulas and radiology and surgery equipment for severe cases. SeaWorld Orlando immediately deployed every tool to help Lagoona recover: from working with partners to conduct CT scans and X-rays to assess the extent of her injuries, to antibiotics and a honey therapy to treat her wounds (thanks to SeaWorld’s Honey Bee and Pollinator Conservation Program).

While SeaWorld Orlando is proud to play a key role in Lagoona’s rescue and rehabilitation, the SeaWorld team couldn’t have done it alone. SeaWorld is a member of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), which includes other key partners and manatee rescue centers such as U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Museum and Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. Each of these partners played an important role in Lagoona’s rescue and recovery, and her story might not have been the same without them.

© SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

[DisneyPCLI]

Some good publicity for Seaworld 👍🏻

[Firstxmastrip]

wish people would recognise the good work they do more. Brilliant stuff.

[Eeyore rocks]

Good work SeaWorld...I love manatees. 😍

[Gryff]

Great news

[lexie32]

Originally Posted by Firstxmastrip

wish people would recognise the good work they do more. Brilliant stuff.

See more...

Me too.

In 2014 we were lucky enough to win a behind the scenes tour, I was amazed at the facilities that were available for injured and sick wild animals and the dedication of the staff! It should have been a 45 min tour but it was our guides last tour before she left to go back to college after a year working there. The tour lasted nearly 2 hours and was one of the best experiences of my life. I stil would prefer animals not to be kept in captivity but I wouldn’t have the respect or interest I have without seeing them up close.

[MissFortune]

Well done SeaWorld & MRP

[JAF]

As I have said before our son was a marine medic whilst studying Marine Biology at University of Miami and saw several times how much Seaworld does to help in the rescue and care and rehabilitation of lots of marine creatures. What people do not seem to realise is this all costs a huge amount of money which and need people going through the gates to help cover the costs.

[°o°-Hannah-°o°]

With the red tide along the west coast there is a lot about it in the news. Watching the footage I’ve seen a lot of seaworld shirts providing aid to sick sea life in the footage

[Andi]

Fantastic news

We were at Seaworld today and it is totally amazing the rescue work that they are involved in.

Their staff are so dedicated and caring for the animals.