CINCINNATI — On Feb. 14, three manatees from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden were released into the warm-water habitat in Florida.  

​A total of 12 manatees from various Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership were released at the Blue Spring State Park, one of the biggest gathering sites for their kind. 

“Returning manatees to their native waters is the whole point of the MRP partnership and getting to see SwimShady, Alby and Manhattan swim away is about as good as it gets. We cared for these manatees for 18 months to get them ready for this moment,” said Lindsay Garrett, one of two Cincinnati Zoo manatee keepers who were on site to assist with the release. 

Until the manatees are large and strong enough, the Cincinnati Zoo provides food and care for the manatees before releasing into the waters. 

“Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day,” said Monica Ross, Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. 

According to Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership, the manatees were: 

• Alby: A small, 51-pound orphan rescued in 2019. He was rehabilitated by SeaWorld Orlando, before being transported to Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for longer term rehabilitation. He was returned to SeaWorld Orlando for pre-release preparation.
• Manhattan: An orphan rescued in fall of 2019, initially rehabilitated by SeaWorld Orlando before being transported to Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for full rehabilitation. He was returned to SeaWorld Orlando for pre-release preparation.
• Swimshady: An orphan rescued in late 2020. He was brought to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation before being transported to Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for continued rehabilitation. He was then returned to SeaWorld Orlando for pre-release preparation.
• Asha: An orphan calf rescued in early 2021, who completed her rehabilitation at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
• Scampi: A small calf who was rescued in 2019 and completed her rehabilitation at Miami Seaquarium, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT (Walt Disney World Resort).
• Ferret: An orphan calf who was rescued in early 2021 and rehabilitated by Miami Seaquarium.
• Finch: An orphan calf rescued in early 2021, who completed his rehabilitation at Miami Seaquarium.
• Artemis: A very small, 51-pound orphan calf rescued in summer 2020. She completed her rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando.
• Bianca: A calf of an injured mother, rescued in spring 2021. She was rehabilitated by SeaWorld Orlando.
• Inigo: A nine-foot adult male rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in 2021 due to UME-related causes. He completed his rehabilitation at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. After suffering a boat strike soon after his release in August 2022, he was rescued a second time and completed his rehabilitation at both Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and SeaWorld Orlando.
• Lilpeep: An orphan calf rescued in the spring of 2021 and transported to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation, then to Aquarium Encounters for continued rehabilitation. He was returned to SeaWorld Orlando for pre-release preparation.
• Maximoff: An orphan calf rescued in early 2021 and rehabilitated by SeaWorld Orlando.

“We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery,” said Andy Garrett, Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

Attached to all 12 manatees are GPS tracking devices to show researchers any movement and to understand orphan manatees in their natural habitat. 

For more information about the manatees rehabilitation, click here.