Manatee Rescue

Update: On Thursday, January 18, 2024, after nearly two years of rehabilitation, Reckless and Churro were released back into the waters near Broward County, Florida. Scientists fitted both manatees with satellite trackers to monitor them after their release. The researchers will use the information to keep track of the animals’ health.

Update: On Thursday, January 18, 2024, after nearly two years of rehabilitation, Reckless and Churro were released back into the waters near Broward County, Florida. Scientists fitted both manatees with satellite trackers to monitor them after their release. The researchers will use the information to keep track of the animals’ health.

Rescuers named the manatee “Reckless” (after a decorated U.S. warhorse that served in World War II). They brought her to SeaWorld, along with her healthy calf, which had been born only a day or two before. They named the baby “Churro.” At first, DiRocco didn’t think anything could be done to save the mother manatee. But after a thorough examination, she found that Reckless’s injuries might not be fatal after all. DiRocco and her team performed nine surgeries on the manatee, including the amputation, or removal, of her left pectoral flipper and shoulder.

After more than a year of medical treatments and physical therapy, Reckless learned to swim with just one flipper. Rescuers plan to eventually release Reckless and Churro back into Florida waters. “Reckless is an inspiration,” says DiRocco. “She’s the embodiment of strength, spirit, and perseverance.”

Rescuers named the manatee “Reckless” (after a decorated U.S. warhorse from World War II). They brought her to SeaWorld, along with her healthy calf. The baby had been born only a day or two before. They named the calf “Churro.” At first, DiRocco didn’t think the mother manatee could be saved. But she gave Reckless a full examination. She found that the injuries might not be fatal after all. DiRocco and her team performed nine surgeries on the manatee. That included the amputation, or removal, of her left pectoral flipper and shoulder.

Reckless had medical treatments and physical therapy for more than a year. She learned to swim with just one flipper. In time, rescuers plan to release Reckless and Churro back into Florida waters. “Reckless is an inspiration,” says DiRocco. “She’s the embodiment of strength, spirit, and perseverance.”

While Reckless’s story has a happy ending, many manatees haven’t been so lucky. Florida manatee deaths have increased dramatically in the past few decades. In 2022, 800 of the animals are known to have died (see Manatees in Peril). That’s a huge number, since only about 7,000 manatees are left in the wild.

Historically, the biggest threats to manatees have been boat collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. But in recent years, the main cause of their decline is loss of their primary food source: sea grasses. Manatees are herbivores—they only eat plants. The huge mammals spend eight hours a day grazing on underwater grasses, earning them the nickname “sea cows.” Manatees can weigh up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lbs) and eat about 10 percent of their body mass daily. But sea grasses have become scarce because of human-made pollution.

Some of this pollution comes from fertilizers, which people apply to crops or lawns to help plants grow. These chemicals wash from land into nearby bodies of water. Fertilizers contain nutrients that can cause algae—tiny plantlike microorganisms that live in water—to grow out of control. This results in large algal blooms that use up resources and block sunlight that sea grasses need to grow. “The blooms overtake sea grasses, so manatees no longer have food,” says Brittany Scharf. She’s a marine ecologist at the University of Florida.

Some algal blooms, known as red tides, also produce neurotoxins. These toxic chemicals harm an animal’s nervous system—the network of nerve cells in the body. Manatees ingest the neurotoxins while swimming or inhale them when they surface for air. The toxins can cause the animals to have breathing problems and even seizures. This uncontrolled activity in the brain makes manatees’ muscles spasm, which can cause them to drown.

Reckless’s story has a happy ending. But many manatees haven’t been so lucky. Florida manatee deaths have shot up in the past few decades. Experts know of 800 manatees that died in 2022 (see Manatees in Peril). That’s a huge number. Only about 7,000 manatees are left in the wild.

The biggest threats to manatees used to be boat collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. But in recent years, the main threat is loss of sea grasses. These grasses are their primary food source. Manatees are herbivores. They eat only plants. The huge mammals graze on underwater grasses for eight hours a day, so they’re nicknamed “sea cows.” Manatees can weigh up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lbs). They eat an amount that equals about 10 percent of their body mass daily. But sea grasses are disappearing because of human-made pollution.

Some of this pollution comes from fertilizers. People apply fertilizers to crops or lawns to help plants grow. These chemicals wash from land into nearby bodies of water. Tiny plantlike microorganisms called algae live in water. Fertilizers contain nutrients that can cause algae to grow out of control. This results in large algal blooms. They use up resources and block sunlight that sea grasses need to grow. “The blooms overtake sea grasses, so manatees no longer have food,” says Brittany Scharf. She’s a marine ecologist at the University of Florida.

Some algal blooms are known as red tides. They produce neurotoxins. These toxic chemicals harm an animal’s nervous system. That’s the network of nerve cells in the body. When manatees swim, they ingest the neurotoxins. Or they inhale them when they surface for air. The toxins can cause breathing problems for the animals. They can even cause seizures. This uncontrolled activity in the brain makes manatees’ muscles spasm. Then they can drown.

If people find a manatee in distress, they should contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “We rely on the public to call when they see sick or injured manatees,” says Andy Garrett. He’s a marine biologist and Florida’s manatee rescue coordinator at FWC.

Garrett helps coordinate scientists and train volunteers to rescue manatees in trouble. The rescuers travel in a specialized boat. It has a motor in the front and a flat, open back like the bed of a pickup truck. “We deploy a net around the manatee and then pull the net with the manatee onto the boat,” explains Garrett. Once the manatee is onboard, the group maneuvers the animal onto a stretcher. After the boat docks on land, the team lifts the manatee into a temperature-controlled truck.

What if people find a manatee in trouble? They should contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “We rely on the public to call when they see sick or injured manatees,” says marine biologist Andy Garrett. He’s Florida’s manatee rescue coordinator at FWC.

Garrett helps organize scientists and train volunteers to rescue manatees in trouble. The rescuers travel in a specialized boat. It has a motor in the front. The boat’s flat, open back is like the bed of a pickup truck. “We deploy a net around the manatee and then pull the net with the manatee onto the boat,” explains Garrett. First, they get the manatee on board. Then they move the animal onto a stretcher. After the boat reaches land, the team lifts the manatee into a temperature-controlled truck.

Rescuers transport the manatee to one of several treatment facilities around the state, such as SeaWorld Orlando, where Reckless and Churro were taken. There the animal can receive surgery, medicine, and physical therapy before it’s released back into the wild. Scientists stress that people shouldn’t try to help hurt manatees themselves. “It takes a lot of human strength and a lot of expertise and skill,” says Garrett.

Garrett estimates that FWC’s efforts save about 100 manatees each year. Until humans change their behaviors, by doing things like obeying boating speed limits and reducing pollution, this work is vital to help the animals survive. “Manatees are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act,” says Garrett, “and we view each manatee’s survival as important to the survival of the species.”

Rescuers take the manatee to a treatment facility. Several are located around the state. One of them is SeaWorld Orlando, where Reckless and Churro were taken. The animal can receive surgery, medicine, and physical therapy there. Then it’s released back into the wild. Scientists stress that people shouldn’t try to assist hurt manatees themselves. “It takes a lot of human strength and a lot of expertise and skill,” says Garrett.

Garrett estimates that FWC saves about 100 manatees each year. People could help by obeying boating speed limits and reducing pollution. Until humans change their behaviors, the FWC’s work is vital to help the animals survive. “Manatees are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act,” says Garrett, “and we view each manatee’s survival as important to the survival of the species.”