SeaWorld Orlando Caring For Orphaned Manatee Calf

An orphaned manatee calf was rescued today from the beaches of Cape Canaveral Air Base in Brevard County, Fla., by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The estimated two-month-old male was spotted on the beach by turtle nesting surveyors near a turtle mound.

The nearly 90-pound calf was transported by the FWC to SeaWorld Orlando, where the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team and veterinary staff performed a complete health exam, took blood samples and began providing an antibiotic treatment. The calf will receive around-the-clock care, including regular tube feedings, and his health will continue to be monitored.

The calf joined three other orphans, who are also receiving rehabilitative care at the park. Manatee calves normally nurse for one to two years. They depend on their mothers not only for nutrition, but also for learning about feeding and resting areas. SeaWorld Orlando uses a special formula created by the park’s animal care team specifically for manatee calves to ensure they are receiving proper nutrition.

So far in 2013, SeaWorld has rescued 16 and returned 8 manatees back to their natural environment. In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than four decades.

If you see an injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.