On February 9th, a wonderful rescue operation took place when SeaWorld in Orlando received an urgent call about a juvenile male manatee that had become trapped in a storm drain and was in need of immediate assistance.
Upon arrival, the dedicated rescue team quickly discovered that the young manatee had entered the storm drain and was unable to find his way out. In order to reach him, rescuers had to break through concrete and dig through several feet of soil to access a structure known as a “baffle box,” where the manatee had gotten stuck. It is believed that he sought refuge in the storm drain to escape the recent cold temperatures.
The impressive rescue operation lasted several hours, during which the 410-pound marine mammal was safely transported to SeaWorld’s rescue and rehabilitation center, which has a remarkable track record of saving wildlife. In fact, this facility successfully rescued 56 manatees in 2025 alone, and this young male marks the 7th one rescued this year.
Upon examination, the veterinary team found that the manatee was significantly underweight and had developed skin lesions from his struggle inside the baffle box. However, just three days later, SeaWorld shared uplifting news: the manatee was showing signs of recovery. He was breathing on his own, moving independently, and even displaying an interest in food.
SeaWorld Orlando expressed their commitment to the manatee’s recovery, stating, “Our animal care team is awaiting lab results, which will guide the care plan for this manatee and next steps. [Our] goal is always to stabilize and rehabilitate rescued manatees so they can ultimately be returned to the wild once deemed healthy and stable by the Zoo teams.”
It’s worth noting that there are two recognized sub-species of the West Indian manatee: the Florida manatee and the Antillean manatee. This heartwarming story beautifully illustrates the compassion and dedication of those who work tirelessly to protect and rehabilitate these magnificent creatures.
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