Manatee Mom & Calf Rescued and Released in Key Largo
Greetings to you! Here’s some great manatee news! In Key Largo, Florida, a rehabilitated manatee mother and calf were successfully released back into the wild on January 28, 2026.
Officials with the Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team announced that, “Momma manatee and her calf were released at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Parkin Key Largo, Florida.”
According to Allie Proskovec, Director of Media and Marketing at Dolphin Research Center, “It was done in partnership with SeaWorld Orlando and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Successful release days are joyful days.” Allie continued and said, “They represent countless hours of dedication, collaboration, and compassion from every organization involved.”
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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