MaryKate, a manatee rescued as an orphaned calf, has been released back into the wild after a rehabilitation process coordinated by the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. Found at Blue Spring State Park in Volusia County, Florida on January 14, 2022, MaryKate measured 135 cm and weighed 108 lbs at the time of her rescue. She was initially taken to SeaWorld Orlando for care and later moved to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for further rehabilitation.

During her time in rehabilitation, MaryKate grew to 255 cm in length and weighed 840 lbs. On February 7, 2024, she was released at Blue Spring State Park, the location where she was originally rescued. After her release, MaryKate was outfitted with a GPS tracker and joined a monitoring program for 21 manatees in 2024 during their post-release phase.

Following her release, MaryKate stayed at Blue Spring until the end of February before moving south. A damaged GPS tag, likely from a boat strike, resulted in her being untracked for several months. She returned to Blue Spring in December and was retagged. Although her body condition appeared to be affected during the winter months when she remained near the spring, she increased her foraging in the river from February 2025 and then moved to Lake Monroe in March. She has been observed socializing and feeding in Lake Monroe, regaining a healthy body condition.

MaryKate’s journey from an orphaned calf to a self-sustaining wild manatee marks the conclusion of the monitoring program’s 2024 release efforts. All activities related to her rescue, rehabilitation, and monitoring were conducted under USFWS Research Permit #MA37808A-2.

Source: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Source Type: Community

Source Location: Clearwater

Daytona, FL

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