Rescued manatee returned to wild

will allow researchers, biologists and organizations like The Bishop to monitor her health and movements. The public can watch her movements online at www.ManateeRescue.org.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – More than two years after an injured young manatee was rescued from Anna Maria Sound, she was released back into the wild.

Aria, a female manatee found with a boat strike injury and suffering from cold stress, was rescued in January 2021.

She received initial critical care from ZooTampa at Lowry Park and on Sept. 21, 2021, she arrived at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat Stage 2 treatment facility for care to help prepare her for her return to the wild, according to Michael Winters, Marketing and Communications Manager at The Bishop.

Upon her rescue, Aria was estimated to be about one and a half years old and she weighed only about 220 pounds. When she arrived at the museum, she was just over 6 feet long and weighed in at 340 pounds.

“It’s likely that Aria was struck by a boat and subsequently orphaned,” said Virginia Edmonds, director of animal care at the museum. “And, since she was injured in January and may not have known where to find a warm-water ref- uge without her mother’s guidance, she also suffered from cold stress. We’re glad we were here to help care for this young manatee and get her ready to return to the wild.”

The Bishop’s Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat is a temporary home where manatees come after their critical care needs have been met in manatee hospitals.

“This second-stage facility offers manatees the opportunity to gain exposure to natural foods and feeding strategies and gain weight for their return to the wild. Second-stage facilities play a vital role in maintaining space for critically ill manatee patients in the hospitals,” according to The Bishop website.

Before her release, Aria was outfitted with a satellite-linked transmitter that

The release of Aria, along with two other manatees, Iclyn and Janus, leaves a temporary vacancy in the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat while scheduled maintenance is done.

“Unfortunately, the need for manatee rehabilitation is great and we will have new short-term residents to care for soon,” according to The Bishop website. Red tide, boat strikes and cold stress are some of the hazards that manatees face.

“Red tide produces toxins that can affect the central nervous system of fish and other marine animals, including manatees,” according to The Bishop website. “Manatees are also exposed to the red tide toxins when they surface to breathe and can develop respiratory infections that can also be fatal.”

The Bishop has been rehabilitating manatees since 1998 and was a founding member of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership in 2001. The facility was the permanent home of Snooty, Manatee County’s official mascot and the oldest known manatee in the world. Snooty died tragically in 2017 at 69 years old after he swam through a broken access panel, became trapped, and drowned.

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