Over 70% of earth is made up of oceans—that’s a lot of wildlife in need of protection in this watery world. Unfortunately, both creatures big and small are experiencing threats to the survival of their species, and among those in most dire need of help is the Florida Manatee.
Manatees located on the Atlantic side of Florida have been experiencing an unusually high level of mortality since 2020. This is primarily due to a lack of food, like sea grass, present in the warm waters that manatees seek out during colder months as well as additional contributing factors such as illness, cold stress, and boat strikes.
In January 2023, Animal Care staff members at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium… including Taylor Hann, Assistant Curator of the Shores and Aquarium region, and Zookeeper Kevin Kollar… spent a week in Florida to work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) . The FWC maintains several field offices throughout Florida and is responsible for surveying the manatee population and responding to manatee-related issues from the approximate area of Port St. Lucie and down through the Florida Keys.
With such a large area to cover, having a dedicated team is key to success, and that includes both the organization’s staff and the public. FWC maintains a hotline that local citizens can call should they have a concern about a manatee, and staff members also monitor local manatees by going to sites that they are known to frequent. This team is also responsible for responding to, rescuing, and potentially transporting orphaned, sick, or injured manatees for additional care.
Although there is always a plan in place for each day, this job can be somewhat unpredictable. During their time there, Columbus Zoo team members were told to come in each day prepared to help with anything and everything that the FWC manatee field lab may need.
“Most of our days helping the team were spent monitoring manatees by kayaking areas lined with mangroves,” Hann said. “We also helped collect environmental data and recorded information about the manatee population at several sites each day.”
While kayaking one day, Hann spotted a member of another species in need of some help. A juvenile pelican had a fishing lure stuck in his pouch and fishing line wrapped around his wing. This left the bird unable to fly or catch fish properly.
“We were able to contact a local wildlife rescue and, with the help of two fishermen, we caught the pelican so it could be rescued,” Hann said. “It was a very memorable experience and a reminder that conservation efforts, even when focused on one species, can have positive impacts on larger ecosystems and the animals that call it home.”
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is honored to be part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), an ongoing partnership for over 20 years. All of the manatees in the Zoo’s care have been rescued from Florida waters — several of whom were rescued by the field station where Hann recently spent her time. Nearly all of the manatees in the Zoo’s care will be returned to their native Florida waters once their rehabilitation is complete.
“The opportunity to work alongside the FWC team and see their conservation efforts in practice will forever impact my perception of the manatees that come to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium through the Manatee Rehabilitation and Release Partnership.”
So far in 2023, 22 manatees have been rescued across the coasts of Florida. Monitoring manatee populations, manatee locations, environmental factors, and mortalities all provide invaluable data that contribute to the survival of the species.
“Getting to spend a week focused on manatees in the field has been an extraordinary experience. The most impactful moments have been getting the chance to see manatees thriving in their native range, and also getting to know the incredibly hardworking, dedicated, and knowledgeable FWC team,” said Hann. “The opportunity to work alongside the FWC team and see their conservation efforts in practice will forever impact my perception of the manatees that come to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium through the Manatee Rehabilitation and Release Partnership.”
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud of Hann and Kollar’s efforts and commitment to helping manatees not just in Florida, but every day at the Zoo as well. It is through dedication such as theirs that will help to make our world safer for manatees and other precious species.
Read more about a recent record-breaking release of rehabilitated manatees back into their natural Florida habitat, including Scampi, Acorn, and Einstein, who recovered at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
3/28/23 Rescue Update
Experts from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium recently returned to Florida to continue their work alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), FWC law enforcement, and the Dolphin Research Center (DRC) under USFWS permit MA770191. Dan Ackerman and Dan Nellis, Keepers for the Zoo's Shores and Aquarium region, were able to rescue manatees from local threats, including a young calf who was found tangled in netting.
Upon reaching the calf, the team quickly realized its mother also had an entanglement left pectoral flipper. Following treatment by a Dolphin Research Center veterinarian, both mother and calf were disentangled and released on site. "We were able to catch, treat, and release with no issue," Nellis said.
Dan Nellis described what it was like to be part of such an important mission. "This was a bucket list adventure for me! It fills me with tremendous pride to say that I am part of this amazing team."
