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<\/p>\nBy LOIS KINDLE<\/p>\n
TECO\u2019s Manatee Viewing Center recently welcomed back The Florida Aquarium\u2019s popular stingrays to Cownose Cove, much to the delight of seasonal visitors who have missed their absence of more than a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are happy to welcome the rays back home to the Manatee Viewing Center,\u201d said Stan Kroh, manager of Land and Stewardship Programs for Tampa Electric. \u201cAlong with the manatees, they are beloved ambassadors of Tampa Electric\u2019s environmental stewardship.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Visitors can once again enjoy the up close, hands on experience with stingrays that\u2019s made Cownose Cose a favorite stop at Manatee Viewing Center since 2016.<\/p>\n
The rays were moved from the viewing center in the spring of 2024 and didn\u2019t return that fall after Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged their habitat\u2019s life support system. The Florida Aquarium has since completed full repairs and added a new gel coat in the 8,300-gallon tank.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 16, seven cownose rays were safely transported back to Cownose Cove, where they\u2019ve been gliding through the water ever since. Visitors are once again enjoying the up close, hands on experience that\u2019s made their habitat a favorite stop at the viewing center since 2016.<\/p>\n
Touching the stingrays is safe because their barbs are trimmed four times a year. A husbandry team from The Florida Aquarium comes to the viewing center daily to feed the rays, monitor them and maintain the tank.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great time to visit, said Lauren Gomez, the center\u2019s administrator of education and outreach. \u201cThe weather\u2019s perfect, the rays are back and so are the manatees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamie Woodlee, its operations administrator, agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rays have been such a great addition,\u201d she said. \u201cThey give visitors yet another species of Florida wildlife to see in person, learn about and enjoy. And due to the cooler water temps this year, manatees have been here since we opened in<\/p>\n
November. Now with the very cold weather there are hundreds of them in TECO\u2019s warm-water discharge canal. We\u2019ve spotted lots of babies among them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The manatees are monitored by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.<\/p>\n
The Manatee Viewing Center is the anchor attraction for the Florida Conservation and Technology Center, a public-private partnership between Tampa Electric, The Florida Aquarium, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the University of Florida. The Florida Conservation and Technology Center includes the Manatee Viewing Center, Tampa Electric\u2019s Clean Energy Center, Florida Aquarium Coral Conservation Center and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, FWC Florida Youth Conservation Center and FWC Fish Hatchery.<\/p>\n
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Visitors can once again enjoy the up close, hands on experience with stingrays that\u2019s made Cownose Cose a favorite stop at Manatee Viewing Center since 2016.<\/p>\n
The viewing center at 6990 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through April 15\u2014with the exception of Easter Sunday, April 5.<\/p>\n
Admission and parking are free. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. The center\u2019s boardwalks are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and only trained service animals are permitted on site.<\/p>\n
Tampa Electric has installed two new state-of-the-art webcams to give customers a better view of the manatees in the canal from the comfort of their homes.<\/p>\n