Florida wildlife officials say the manatee, named Cascade, was rescued in May after it was apparently hit by a boat.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A rescued manatee swam back into the wild Thursday after a successful summer-long rehabilitation.
The manatee, named Cascade, was released at the Eckerd College Waterfront at 1 p.m. ZooTampa, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab, and Eckerd College Search and Rescue teamed up for the release.
Eckerd College tells 10 Tampa Bay News the adult male manatee was found May 13 near Treasure Island. Rescuers say Cascade was suffering from “boat-related injuries.”
FWC and a team from Eckerd took the injured sea cow to ZooTampa for rehab. Four months later, they say his condition is good enough to return to the wild.
The team used a tarp to move the manatee from a transport truck down the Eckerd College boat ramp. They say this was the easiest way to move the animal since adult manatees can weigh more than 1,200 pounds.
