Manatee rehabilitation and interstate transfer efforts

The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) has coordinated the interstate transfer of manatees between Ohio and Florida facilities to support rehabilitation and population restoration.

In mid-October, four manatees—Redrock, Rosalyn, Erie, and Hundo—were moved from Ohio zoos to Florida facilities, including the Brevard Zoo and Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, to prepare for anticipated releases into the wild. To facilitate these moves, six orphaned calves were transferred from SeaWorld Orlando to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Subsequent reports highlight specific progress in these conservation efforts. A female calf named Calfuccino, rescued near Naples, has moved to EPCOT for short-term care after significant weight gain at ZooTampa. Additionally, the male manatee Hundo has been flown from Cincinnati back to Florida for continued rehabilitation at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This transfer also enabled the Cincinnati Zoo to begin caring for three newly rescued calves: Tuglet, Smidge, and Zimomo.