iStockphoto / Andrea Izzotti
Multiple agencies in Melbourne Beach, Florida came together this week to rescue a juvenile manatee that had gotten itself stuck inside a storm drain. Officials believe the manatee was seeking warmer water after weeks of cold weather here in the Sunshine State when it got stuck.
Initially, sounds from the manatee were heard and it was then discovered when a crew popped open a manhole cover to see the juvenile sea cow stuck.
Juvenile Manatee Rescued From Storm Drain In Florida
A worker at a local architectural firm contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (MyFWC) officers to report the trapped manatee. They said they could hear the animal chirping from inside.
Once the manhole cover was opened, a dramatic rescue operation was launched to free the manatee. First, they needed to get permission to tear up the road in order to remove the manatee from the manhole cover. Next, they would actually have to excavate the road. And all of this wold need to be done in a timely manner in order to ensure the animal survived the ordeal.
All’s well that ends well, right?
A member from the Brevard County Fire Rescue would later say “it took a village to free the sea cow.” Brandi Phillips, who is the Animal Technical Rescue Branch Director for UF VETS, would also add “this was a heavily coordinated effort across multiple agencies and community partners, and everyone came together with great communication and collaboration to ensure the quickest possible response.”
The juvenile manatee is now being rehabilitated at SeaWorld Orlando.
SeaWorld released a statement saying “he’s breathing on his own, moving independently and showing interest in food. Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care. Our goal is always to stabilize and rehabilitate rescued manatees so they can ultimately be returned to the wild.”
If there’s one thing we love in Florida, it is manatees. Which is all the weirder that President Trump, a Florida resident, removed manatees from the Endangered Species List back in 2017 when he was in office. Endangered species or not though, everyone came together to rescue this beloved creature and save the day.