Rescued Manatees

Lesley the manatee and Leena her calf on a rescue boat. — Lesley, injured from a watercraft collision, and Leena her calf on board the rescue boat.

Lesley has been a manatee known to visit Blue Spring State Park since 2014. She was rescued along with her dependent calf Leena on March 22, 2018. Lesley had suffered a severe watercraft injury and both mom and calf were taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation. Leena was released back into the wild on November 11, 2018, after she was considered old enough to survive on her own. Lesley remains in rehabilitation at SeaWorld. She has had several surgeries and is doing better, but she is still fighting infection. Save the Manatee Club staff reported Lesley in emaciated condition, which initiated her rescue, and assisted with the rescue and release of Leena.

Una the manatee entangled in fishing line — This photo, taken on January 27, 2020, shows how Una’s flipper is swollen and possibly infected.

Una was rescued as an orphaned calf in 2003. She was released in 2006 and has been a Save the Manatee Club adoptee since 2018. She has been rescued several times for fishing line entanglement on her flippers. Her latest entanglement was discovered when Una came in for the season with a dependent female calf at Blue Spring State Park on November 16, 2019. The entanglement included several types of fishing line, twigs, lead sinkers, and hooks. Unfortunately, Una’s left flipper seemed infected and started to deteriorate to the point where it was not certain her calf could still nurse properly. On February 24, 2020, Una and her calf were successfully captured and transported to SeaWorld Orlando for treatment. At last report, Una and the calf are well and together in a pool at SeaWorld. As soon as Una is well, the mom and calf pair will be returned to Blue Spring to be released back into the wild. Save the Manatee Club staff helped with monitoring efforts for Una and has participated in her rescues and releases.

Cassie and Buckeye the manatees. — Cassie and Buckeye, wearing their tracking gear after they were released into the wild.

Cassie and Buckeye were both rescued as tiny orphans in the summer of 2015. They spent time in rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando and at the Jacksonville Zoo. On March 8, 2018, they were released. They were outfitted with satellite tracking devices and monitored by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. Both Cassie, a female, and Buckeye, a male, have had some trouble adapting to life in the wild. Buckeye was re-rescued because of weight loss on February 12, 2019, and he was taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation. He was released again at Blue Spring on April 30, 2019. At last report, Cassie and Buckeye were both doing well in the wild! Save the Manatee Club assisted with post-release monitoring efforts of Cassie and Buckeye, especially through the Blue Spring Manatee Observer Program, throughout the summer of 2018 and 2019.

Bago the manatee is released into the wild. — Bago is released into the wild after being treated for severe cold stress.

Bago is a male manatee rescued for severe cold stress syndrome at Lake Griffin near Leesburg, Florida, on January 29, 2019. He was taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation. After he recovered, he was released into the St. John’s River near Welaka, Florida, on July 18, 2019. Outfitted with satellite tag, Bago is being monitored by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and is doing well in the wild. Save the Manatee Club staff was first on scene to get a visual on Bago in January 2019 and helped with his rescue and later release.

Streak the manatee is released into the wild at Blue Spring State Park. — Streak is released into the wild at Blue Spring State Park.

Streak is a male manatee known to visit Blue Spring State Park since 2012. He was rescued for very severe cold stress on December 28, 2014 and was taken to SeaWorld Orlando for treatment. After recovering, Streak was released back at Blue Spring on March 25, 2015. Save the Manatee Club staff helped with monitoring Streak at Blue Spring and assisted with his rescue and release.