Thursday, May 17, 2011 Update
A young male manatee calf traveled from the Miami Seaquarium to join Snooty and Brandee today. This manatee, nicknamed Charlie, was rescued from the Gasparilla Sound, part of the Charlotte Harbor watershed, with his mother who later died from injuries sustained from a boating accident. Since November 2010, he has been undergoing rehabilitation and has been moved to South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium to continue his rehabilitation until he is ready for a release into the wild.
Monday, March 7, 2011 Update
The South Florida Museum is pleased to announce that on Monday, March 7, 2011, Dese, one of the young females rehabilitating with Snooty, has been released. After over six months at the facility, Dese reached a healthy weight and was fit for release. Twelve museum staff members and volunteers worked with United States Fish and Wildlife, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and Sea World to transport and release Dese at the Berkley Canal near Satellite Beach where she was originally found.
Brandee, who joined Snooty with Dese in fall 2010 remains at the aquarium rehabilitating. She is eating well and gaining weight in order for a healthy release.
Monday, August 9, 2010 Update
Two young female manatees, nicknamed Brandee and Dese, arrived at the South Florida Museum's Parker Manatee Aquarium on Monday, August 9, 2010. Both animals had been undergoing rehabilitation at the Lowry Park Zoo, a critical care facility, since early 2010. Both animals were rescued after being identified as suffering from cold stress due to prolonged exposure to cold temperature.
Photo credit: Marc M. Ellis / H2O Pictures.
Brandee was rescued in February 2010 and was found in the Warner West Bayou in Bradenton.
Photo credit: Marc M. Ellis / H2O Pictures.
Dese was found in the Banana River near Satellite Beach on the east coast in March 2010.
The museum is pleased to be able to provide an environment for these two manatees to continue healing and gathering strength until they are deemed ready for release by our consulting vet, Dr. David Murphy, and release plans are given final approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
To view Snooty and his current tank mates, please click here to watch the Snooty Cam, available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
As part of the Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Program, the South Florida Museum is a second stage rehabilitation facility and provides a temporary home for manatees, often times following the manatee's transfer from a critical care facility. These two manatees will be monitored at the museum as they continue to recover during the course of rehabilitation. The South Florida Museum has held 19 manatees since joining the network in 1998, making Brandee and Dese the 20th and 21st manatees to be cared for at the museum as part of the rehabilitation program. To help support this important program, please click here..
If you see a manatee in distress please contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-404-FWCC end_of_the_skype_highlighting (3922).