Baby manatee found with shark bite, boat strike wounds near St. Pete dock

A baby manatee is in critical condition after he was found floating in St. Pete waters with shark bite wounds on his tail.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded last week to a call about a small, distressed manatee floating next to a dock at Eckerd College.

Rescue crews discovered that the calf had wounds from a recent watercraft interaction, several shark bite wounds on his tail and was underweight.

With assistance from Eckerd College rescue teams, the calf was transported to ZooTampa’s manatee hospital for further treatment.

ZooTampa told 10 Tampa Bay News that the manatee was 195 pounds at the time of his rescue and is estimated to be less than a year old.

“He remains in critical condition and is on daily tube feedings,” a spokesperson for the zoo said.

If you see an injured, distressed or abandoned manatee calf, you’re asked to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

“Early rescue efforts may save a manatee’s life!” the FWC wrote.