Jacksonville Zoo Opens Manatee Rehab Center
Greetings to you! Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens will have a grand opening for the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River and VyStar SkyScape which is a milestone for the zoo!
“The new habitat and entrance are the first major components of REZOOVENATION, a multi-phase plan to revitalize the zoo’s campus and improve animal habitats. The Wayne and Weaver Manatee River is a 330,000-gallon, state-of-the-art critical care facility. It is designed to allow the zoo to rescue, rehabilitate and release Florida manatees, a species currently considered threatened.”
This new and fantastic habitat at Jacksonville Zoo offers visitors “real-time visibility into conservation work while providing education about the manatee ecosystem.”
“The VyStar SkyScape serves as the zoo’s new primary entrance and features a dramatic, immersive video screen with direct views into the manatee habitat, along with a café and retail space.
The new facilities also function as an event destination for corporate gatherings, weddings and community celebrations. It features flexible indoor and outdoor spaces that overlook the manatee habitat, including banquet facilities and meeting rooms, while the covered SkyScape area provides additional space for galas and large events.”
To learn more about the endangered Florida manatee, below is an awesome book for children!
Synopsis: In late September, Kobee Manatee® is on a twelve-hundred-mile mission to get back home to Florida from Cape Cod, Massachusetts before the impending cold threatens his life. On his southbound journey, he meets two new friends: Tess the seahorse, who loves to learn, and Pablo the hermit crab, who is in search for a new shell. Will Kobee and his friends make it to Florida in time? Children learn all about manatees and their habitat!
We Have Excellent Reviews for Kobee Manatee!“Children can learn a great deal about manatees and their habitat by reading about Kobee and his friends and their traveling adventure.” – Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation, Save the Manatee Club
“This luxuriously illustrated, infectiously charming story makes us want to save the manatee and have a plush version to hug.” – ForeWord Clarion Reviews
“A swimmingly fun, educational trip sure to be enjoyed by young friends of the manatee.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Kobee Manatee: Heading Home to Florida is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for parents and educators and is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. Using a rigorous evaluation process, entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media trust the MCA Honoring Excellence seal when selecting quality products and services for families and children.” – Mom’s Choice Awards
If you are in Florida and you see a sick or injured manatee, 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’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …
Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …
~ Robert Scott Thayer
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