Melbourne Manatee Quickly Rescued
Greetings to you! I have some wonderful manatee news with the rescue of a male manatee in Melbourne Beach, Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission[FWC] responded to a scene in Brevard County where an adult male manatee was confirmed to be stuck inside a storm drain.
“The FWC called the Brevard County Fire Rescue for assistance. Multiple units worked to free the manatee from the drain in Melbourne Beach. After several hours, the manatee was successfully lifted from the storm drain.”
According to FWC, “the manatee appeared active while inside the drain and did not show signs of cold stress.” The FWC continued and said, “The overall health status of the animal was unknown. Officials are unsure how long the manatee was stuck in the storm drain.”
Melbourne Beach Vice Mayor Terry Cronin said, “It was a complete coincidence they found the manatee in the storm drain. We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach. Our people were doing a survey. And one of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a bethel box. Trapped in there. The thought is the manatee was seeking warmer water during that cold snap and went up the pipe from the Indian River and got stuck.”
On Tuesday, SeaWorld Orlando officials confirmed that the manatee had been admitted to the facility for rehabilitation.
Manatees usually overwinter in Florida, where warm springs and power plant discharge water provide cozy refuges. These warm-blooded gentle giants need water temperatures above 68 degrees and plenty of seagrass to survive no matter where they are.
To learn more about the endangered Florida manatee, below is an awesome award-winning Kobee Manatee® 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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