Tourexpi
Clearwater
Marine Aquarium opened its Manatee Rehabilitation Center today, heralding a
significant milestone for the Aquarium. This state-of-the-art facility will
help accommodate the surge in manatees requiring care. CMA will provide
assistance to sick, injured or orphaned manatees which includes individuals
affected by habitat loss, boat strike wounds, ingestion of foreign objects,
entanglements and cold stress syndrome. Equipped with the latest technology,
including ozone treatment and medical habitats with false bottoms, the center
is designed to ensure the comfort and well-being of these gentle sea creatures.
The
first two manatee patients were recently welcomed and both transported from
ZooTampa at Lowry Park, which like CMA, is also a member of the Manatee Rescue
& Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP). ZooTampa, along with SeaWorld Orlando
and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens are critical care facilities for manatee
rehabilitation. Two of those facilities have at least 20 manatees currently
receiving care, so their transfer to CMA helps alleviate the critical care bed
space. CMA will be moving toward accepting critical care cases in the near
future after its surgical suite is renovated, enlarged and equipped to allow
for manatee surgical needs.
The
first patients are:
YETI
- Yeti was rescued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, ZooTampa and U.S. Fish and Wildlife for cold stress in Kings
Bay, Citrus County, Florida on Feb. 15, 2024. He was 205
centimeters long and weighed 365 pounds at the time of his rescue. Yeti was
transported to ZooTampa at Lowry Park for critical care and was transferred to
Clearwater Marine Aquarium for continued rehabilitation. He is currently 216
centimeters long and weighs 495 pounds.
ZAMBONI
- Zamboni was rescued for cold stress by Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission and ZooTampa in Placida Bayou, Pinellas
County, Florida on Jan. 25, 2024. He was 200 centimeters long and
weighed 306 pounds at the time of his rescue. Zamboni was transported to
ZooTampa at Lowry Park for critical care and transferred to Clearwater Marine
Aquarium for continued rehabilitation. He is currently 208 centimeters long and
weighs 440 pounds.
Manatees
are a flagship species and indicators of the health of their aquatic natural
habitat, playing a vital role to the ecosystem. As stewards of this
threatened species, CMA's goal is to educate guests about manatees and their
conservation status. Visitors can learn about the threats to manatees and what
they can do to help protect them. Coupled with educational experiences, the
public will have the opportunity to observe the manatees and CMA's work to
provide care.
For
over two decades, CMA has assisted in rescuing, releasing and tracking manatees
around the world. In 2019, the aquarium introduced a new Research Institute
division, encompassing the staff and programs of the former Sea to Shore
Alliance organization. The intent of CMA Research Institute (CMARI) is to
broaden the conservation and research scope of CMA, resulting in
advancements toward the protection of species and habitats both locally and
globally. Dr. James "Buddy" Powell, chief zoological officer for CMA,
and executive director of CMARI, has worked to protect manatees around the
globe for more than 50 years through field study and scientific research.
"The
opening of the manatee care center symbolizes a complete journey for us, years
in the making. Having already played a vital role in rescue, research, and
monitoring of manatees, we now step into the crucial realm of providing direct
care for their recovery and survival," said Dr. Powell. "Global
research and hands-on care are intertwined. Through studying manatees both in
the wild and within our facility, we gain invaluable insights into their needs
and behaviors, empowering us to craft more effective conservation
strategies," said Dr. Powell. "We are profoundly grateful to
the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership for their
partnership and shared commitment to saving this species."
Accompanying
the new Manatee Rehabilitation Center, a dedicated team will be tasked with the
crucial responsibility of providing expert care to these animals in need. From
veterinarians to research scientists to field assistants. Some of the
professionals on this team include:
Dr.
James "Buddy" Powell, chief zoological officer - For over 50 years,
Dr. Powell has been a leading authority in manatee research and conservation,
dedicating his career to their protection and that of other endangered species
worldwide. Beginning as a biologist and manatee specialist with the U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service, he later conducted groundbreaking research on manatees
for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), contributing to the establishment
of coastal protected areas in Florida, Central America, and Cuba.
Dr. Powell's expertise has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the
Pew Award in Marine Conservation. His work continues to inspire conservation
efforts globally.
Dr. Shelly
Marquardt, chief veterinarian: Dr. Marquardt has an extensive
background in manatee care that spans over a decade. Her aquatic medicine
career began with manatees in Crystal River. She immersed herself in the
annual field assessments of the wintering manatee population, becoming an
expert in the intricacies of their health and field procedures. After joining
the team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Dr. Marquardt eagerly joined
the rescue team, diving into the frontline efforts to rescue manatees in
collaboration with esteemed organizations like Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission and University of Florida. Her commitment
to manatee welfare has been unwavering, and she is passionate about bringing
her wealth of experience full circle, ensuring that manatee care continues to
evolve and thrive both in the field and beyond.
Tanya
Ward, manatee care manager: Tanya started her career volunteering
at CMA in various departments including the rescue team, the sea
turtle department, and the Full Circle Program which led to a full-time job
with the Full Circle Program, a grant-based program working with at-risk youth
in an animal- assisted therapy setting. Through volunteer and full-time work at CMA, she then
worked at Lowry Park Zoo,
(ZooTampa), where she worked in the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital for 10 years.
After
ZooTampa, she moved to Colorado in 2013 working at Colorado
State University in its veterinary equine teaching hospital. She returned
to Clearwater in 2014, working at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. She
continued her volunteer work at CMA as a rescue team member on
manatee calls as well as other marine life and with CMA Research
Institute.
Monica
Ross, Director of Manatee Research and Conservation - With over 30 years of
research experience, Monica is a leading authority in manatee behavior,
adaptation and habitat use.. Her career began as an aquatic specialist focused
on marine mammal cognitive behavior at Walt Disney World. She then focused her
career on helping manatees while working at the State of Florida's Florida
Marine Research Institute. She has been instrumental in providing valuable data
and expertise input to state and federal agencies for developing and enhancing
manatee habitat protection measures. Monica's research extends to habitat
health and enhancement strategies, reflecting her commitment to the well-being
of these gentle giants.
To
date, CMARI has tagged and monitored 100 manatees for the Manatee
Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP). The data gathered over the past 20 years is
vital to ensuring the future health of rehabilitated manatees and ensuring the
future success of the species. CMARI scientists not only monitor rehabilitated
manatees as partners in the MRP but study the movement patterns of tagged wild
manatees throughout the southeast United States and Caribbean to
better understand changing migration patterns and shifts in habitats selected
for survival within the manatee population overall.
Funding
for this project is made possible by the State of Florida, Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Duke Energy Foundation, John H.
Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program and numerous private
donors.
Image
Credit: © Clearwater Marine Aquarium
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