Trinidad the Manatee Released into Tampa Bay!
Photo Courtesy/SeaWorld Rescue
Great News – there were 11 people escorting my buddy, Trinidad, back into the Florida waters off Tampa Bay! If you recall, I wrote back in February that Trinidad the manatee went on a traveling adventure from Florida westbound to Texas in 2014. However, when he tried to start heading home to Florida, he developed severe cold stress because several strong fronts of frigid air began invading the south.
Now, after several months of rehabilitation and a transfer from SeaWorld, San Antonio to SeaWorld, Orlando, Trinidad was finally ready for his adventure back into Florida’s waters. Congrats buddy!
And here’s some more cool news about Trinidad…
…Researchers using the Manatee Individual Photo-Identification System, images of scarred Florida manatees kept in a catalog, which was developed by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and located in the Mote Marine Laboratory, it was shown Trinidad was first seen in the waters of Tampa Bay in December 2001!
Because Trinidad traveled such a long distance west in the Gulf of Mexico and ended up in Texas, the USGS decided to monitor his movements with a new tag. The folks at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will do the observations on Trinidad’s travels as they attempt to better understand manatee habitat. All excellent news!
Florida Manatees (that’s me!) are a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. We’re currently listed as “endangered” and are at risk from both natural and man-made causes of injury and death. Our exposure to cold stress, red tide, and other diseases are the natural challenges we face each day. The man-made issues facing us are; boat strikes, flood gates (or locks) and also getting caught and tangled up in fishing gear.
If you see any sick or injured manatees, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here is a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation…
Here’s another awesome link to learn more about manatees…
~ Kobee Manatee
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