DENNIS, Mass. -- I misguided manatee the local town had named Dennis is heading south after being rescued from the frigid waters off Cape Cod in a rescue that occurred early this morning.
Sesuit harbor was where the 1000 lb juvenile male manatee had wandered into and stayed for several days, grazing on an abundance of local algae, so local wildlife officials made the decisions to capture and relocate him as manatees are normally found in the waters of Florida and Georgia and they can stop feeding if they get too cold.
International Fund for Animal Welfare spokesman Cris Cutter said they placed boats on each side of the manatee to hold him in position then with a net they hoisted him up onto a barge as onlookers cheered.
Nicole Adimey, a wildlife biologist and director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s manatee rescue and rehabilitation program in Jacksonville, Fla. said: "Manatees don’t do well in temperatures below 68 degrees. Their metabolism slows and they tend to stop eating, burning up their fat reserves. Sesuit Harbor was still in the mid-60s earlier this week and warming."
Officials said that caretakers will keep the manatee wet during the 20-hour drive to Sea World in Florida where a health check and rehabilitation will take place, after which he will be released back into the wild.
We applaud all involved in rescuing these gentle, endanger animals.
Manatee Saved from Frigid Cape Cod Waters
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