Story at a glance
- SeaWorld announced Friday it is increasing the capacity in its Orlando Park to care for sick and injured manatees.
- The company said it is adding five 40-foot pools to accommodate 20 manatees within two weeks.
- “We are bringing animals in that are skeletons. These animals need long-term care,” said Jon Peterson, chief of zoological operations at SeaWorld.
SeaWorld announced Friday it is increasing the capacity in its Orlando Park to care for sick and injured manatees dying from starvation.
The company, which is one of five facilities across the country caring for sick and injured manatees, said it is adding five 40-foot pools to accommodate 20 manatees within two weeks, according to The Associated Press (AP).
“We are bringing animals in that are skeletons. These animals need long-term care,” said Jon Peterson, chief of zoological operations at SeaWorld.
“We’ve got the space. We will continue to use that space,” he continued.
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Approximately 97 manatees have been found dead along the Florida coast in 2022, according to preliminary mortality data from the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission. Around 1,100 manatees died in 2021 – 103 perished from collisions with watercraft.
The recent mortality data represents a drastic increase in manatee deaths from the previous year when 534 died on the Florida coast.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission recently undertook an initiative on the state’s Atlantic coast to hand feed starving manatees romaine lettuce.
“We understand the importance of a timely response. Our agencies and Unified Command partners carefully considered all aspects of a short-term feeding trial,” Shannon Estenoz, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, said in a statement announcing the program.
“It is critical we help manatees in the short term with actions that are compatible with their long-term well-being and resilience.”
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