Thin Manatee Finds New Hope at SeaWorld

FWC Research Institute Facebook photo

In a collaborative effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI), ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, a rescue operation was executed last week to save a distressed manatee entrapped in Clam Bayou, a retention pond system in St. Petersburg.

Dubbed "Flapjack" by researchers, the emaciated manatee was extracted from its entanglement and underwent a thorough examination prior to transport. Notably, FWC-FWRI staff utilized advanced scanning techniques to detect PIT tags, crucial identifiers often used by veterinarians to track and aid in the recovery of lost pets. This scanning process revealed "Flapjack's" previous health history.

Originally rescued and rehabilitated in 2021 after being discovered in a severely malnourished state in the Weeki Wachee River, "Flapjack" had previously undergone treatment at ZooTampa at Lowry Park before being released back into the wild in 2022. However, his recent frail condition, coupled with his documented health history, prompted experts to advocate for further care and rehabilitation.

The decision was made to transport him to SeaWorld for continued support and treatment.