ZooTampa at Lowry Park welcomed a female manatee calf named Beatrix. This marks the first manatee born here in more than 10 years. The calf’s mother, Mary Lou, weighs around 1,230 pounds and was rescued years ago.
Beatrix tipped the scales at 76 pounds when she arrived. Zoo workers say the newborn looks healthy. She nurses often while staff keep watch.
Mary Lou remains in critical condition after a watercraft struck her in the Manatee River. Despite her injuries, the mother bonds well with Beatrix as staff monitor them both throughout each day.
Teams track the pair to confirm Beatrix hits key growth markers during these first weeks. Zoo workers point out this birth matters because manatees still face dangers across Florida waters — boat strikes, shrinking habitats, cold snaps, and scarce food sources threaten their survival.
The zoo also welcomed Liberty, a female Eastern bongo calf, on July 3. She weighed 38 pounds and stood two feet tall at birth. This makes seven Eastern bongos born here over five years, which helps a species with fewer than 100 left in the wild due to lost habitat and poaching.
The park’s baby boom brought new arrivals across many species this year. One female manatee calf came first. Then three Eastern bongo calves, two southern white rhinos, two impalas, and two nyalas followed. Four Bali mynah chicks hatched. Three African spoonbill chicks broke through their shells. Six green-naped lorikeet chicks rounded out the count.
“The births of these species, many of which are listed as critically endangered, endangered, or threatened, highlight the Zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts and commitment to saving species,” ZooTampa said in a statement, according to Fox13.
ZooTampa runs one of the country’s top manatee recovery centers. It cares for injured, orphaned, and sick manatees alongside wildlife agencies. Many rescued animals return to Florida waters once they finish recovery.
A healthy calf gives researchers and animal care workers a chance to learn more about manatees while supporting conservation work for years ahead. Staff will keep watching Beatrix as she grows next to Mary Lou, teaching visitors why protecting Florida’s manatees and the waters they need matters so much.