Rescued manatee released after recovering from boat strike near Treasure Island

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A manatee was released at Eckerd College on Thursday after it spent the summer being rehabilitated at ZooTampa.

Cascade the manatee was found with boat-related injuries in the Treasure Island area on May 13.

It was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Eckerd College Search and Rescue team and was taken to the zoo to recover.

On Thursday, a team will move the more than 1,000-pound animal from a transport truck down the Eckerd College boat ramp using a pre-moistened tarp.