JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – About six weeks after being rescued from the Ortega River after he was struck by a vessel and injured, manatee Koa was returned to the wild on Thursday.
Dr. Nadia Lentz, a marine biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was among those who worked to rescue Koa on Sept. 13.
Koa suffered broken ribs and a pneumothorax when he was struck by the vessel.
About six weeks after being rescued from the Ortega River after he was struck by a vessel and injured, manatee Koa was returned to the wild on Thursday. (Victor Rodriguez/News4JAX photographer)
He was taken to SeaWorld Orlando, where he was rehabilitated until he was well enough to return to the wild.
Volunteers and members of the FWC, SeaWorld Orlando, the city of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Zoo and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office worked together to get Koa back into the Ortega River on Thursday morning.
Before returning to the wild, Koa was measured, and his scars from the accident were identified. He was also tagged before his release.
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