From left: Soleil, Piccolina, and Calliope

Shutterstock.com (background); Courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (three manatees)

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Manatees on the Move

When three manatees were left on their own, rescue workers rushed in to help them.

September 2, 2024
By Meg Richardson

As You Read: Why did rescue workers have to help these three manatees?

Three female manatees arrived at ZooTampa in Florida in 2021. The babies had been found swimming alone in nearby waterways. Manatee calves stay with their mothers for about two years. But these babies’ moms were nowhere to be found.

The calves were in bad shape. Most manatees weigh 65 pounds at birth. But one of the babies was just 44 pounds! 

So rescue workers stepped in to raise them. They named the manatees Calliope (kuh-LYE-uh-pee), Soleil (soh-LAY), and Piccolina (pih-koh-LEE-nah).

It was the start of an amazing journey of survival. The marine animals would be moved hundreds of miles over the next two years. They’d travel on trucks and planes. Then they’d be returned to the wild. 

Three female manatees arrived at ZooTampa in Florida. It was 2021. The babies had been found in nearby waterways. They were swimming alone. Manatee calves stay with their mothers for about two years. But these babies’ moms were nowhere to be found.

The calves were in bad shape. Most manatees weigh 65 pounds at birth. But one of the babies was just 44 pounds! 

So rescue workers stepped in to raise them. They named the manatees Calliope (kuh-LYE-uh-pee), Soleil (soh-LAY), and Piccolina (pih-koh-LEE-nah).

It was the start of an amazing journey of survival. The marine animals would be moved hundreds of miles over the next two years. They’d travel on trucks and planes. Then they’d be returned to the wild. 

Get to Know Florida Manatees

WaterFrame/Alamy Stock Photo

  • The sea creatures live mostly off the coasts of Florida. When waters are warm, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Delaware.
  • The sea creatures live mostly off the coasts of Florida. When waters are warm, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Delaware.
  • Manatees are strong swimmers. They sometimes swim upside down and even do somersaults.
  • Manatees are strong swimmers. They sometimes swim upside down and even do somersaults.
  • Many people think manatees look like walruses. But they’re actually related to elephants.
  • Many people think manatees look like walruses. But they’re actually related to elephants.

Shutterstock.com

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA

Animals at Risk

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Officials say that at least 8,300 manatees live in Florida’s waterways. That’s more than the number that lived there 50 years ago. But the sea creatures are still at risk. 

One of the biggest threats manatees face is not having enough food. Most adult manatees eat about 100 pounds of seagrass a day. The herbivores graze so much that they’re often called “sea cows.” In fact, they eat for about eight hours a day!  

But much of the seagrass along Florida’s coastlines is disappearing. That’s because of sewage and other pollution. A record 1,100 manatees died in Florida in 2021.

At least 8,300 manatees live in Florida’s waterways. That’s according to wildlife officials. More manatees live there today than 50 years ago. But the sea creatures are still at risk. 

One of the biggest threats manatees face is not having enough food. Most adult manatees eat about 100 pounds of seagrass a day. The herbivores graze so much that they’re often called “sea cows.” In fact, they eat for about eight hours a day!  

But much of the seagrass along Florida’s coastlines is disappearing. That’s because of sewage and other pollution. A record 1,100 manatees died in Florida in 2021.

Pause and Think

Why are manatees in danger? 

Why are manatees in danger? 

Getting Stronger

Workers at ZooTampa cared for Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina day and night. They made buckets of special formula. Then they fed the calves from baby bottles. Piccolina was the smallest of the three. By November 2022, she weighed about 375 pounds. But experts say manatees should weigh at least 600 pounds before they are released back into the wild.

To free up space for other manatees in need, Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina were moved to another facility. They were loaded onto planes and flown to the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. That’s nearly 800 miles away.

“When we first got those girls, they were very scared,” explains Tara Lay. She is a zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo.  

Slowly, the gentle giants became more confident. They also grew stronger. Lay and other workers fed the manatees leafy greens. They arranged the vegetables at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass. That helped the animals learn how to find food.

Workers at ZooTampa cared for Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina. They made buckets of special formula. Then they fed the calves from baby bottles. Piccolina was the smallest of the three. By November 2022, she weighed about 375 pounds. But experts say manatees should weigh at least 600 pounds before they are released back into the wild.

ZooTampa soon needed space for other manatees in need. So the calves had to be moved to another facility. They were loaded onto planes. Then they were flown to the Cincinnati Zoo. That’s in Ohio. It’s nearly 800 miles away.

“When we first got those girls, they were very scared,” explains Tara Lay. She is a zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo.  

Slowly, the gentle giants became more confident. They also grew stronger. Lay and other workers fed the manatees leafy greens. They arranged the vegetables at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass. That helped the animals learn how to find food.

Going Home

The manatees spent 11 months in Cincinnati. By then, they were big enough to be released back into the wild. That meant a return trip to Florida. Workers loaded the sea creatures into huge padded containers. Then they put the manatees on trucks that took them to the airport.  

After a few months back at ZooTampa, it was time to say goodbye. Workers put tracking devices on the three manatees. They wanted to be able to check on the animals in the wild. Calliope and Soleil were released on February 13 of this year. Piccolina joined them the next day.  

Lay was sad to see the girls go. But she was happy the manatees were back where they belong.

“I definitely cried a lot of tears of joy,” she says. “Watching them out there with other manatees, it was very rewarding.”

The manatees spent 11 months in Cincinnati. Then they were big enough to be released back into the wild. That meant a return trip to Florida. Workers loaded the sea creatures into huge padded containers. Then they put the manatees on trucks. Next the animals were taken to the airport. 

The manatees were back at ZooTampa for a few months. Then it was time to say goodbye. Workers put tracking devices on the three manatees. They wanted to be able to check on the animals in the wild. Calliope and Soleil were released first. That was on February 13 of this year. Piccolina joined them the next day.  

Lay was sad to see the girls go. But she was happy the manatees were back where they belong.

“I definitely cried a lot of tears of joy,” she says. “Watching them out there with other manatees, it was very rewarding.”

Note: After being released into the wild, Calliope and Piccolina needed additional help. As of early August, they were back at ZooTampa and doing well.

Note: After being released into the wild, Calliope and Piccolina needed additional help. As of early August, they were back at ZooTampa and doing well.

Lending a Hand

Here’s how rescue workers helped prepare Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina to be released back into the wild.

Here’s how rescue workers helped prepare Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina to be released back into the wild.

ZooTampa 

Feeding Time: Every four hours, workers at ZooTampa fed the calves from giant baby bottles.

Feeding Time: Every four hours, workers at ZooTampa fed the calves from giant baby bottles.

Jason Gulley Photography

Moving Day: Workers in Ohio placed each manatee on a giant tarp. Then they lifted the animals into specially made containers for the flight back to Florida.

Moving Day: Workers in Ohio placed each manatee on a giant tarp. Then they lifted the animals into specially made containers for the flight back to Florida.

Jason Gulley Photography

Into the Wild: In February, workers guided the manatees back into a Florida waterway.

Into the Wild: In February, workers guided the manatees back into a Florida waterway.

1. Why did rescue workers need to step in to raise the three manatees?

2. According to the Words to Know box, what are herbivores? What clues in the article help you understand the word’s meaning?

3. Why did workers at the Cincinnati Zoo arrange vegetables at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass?

1. Why did rescue workers need to step in to raise the three manatees?

2. According to the Words to Know box, what are herbivores? What clues in the article help you understand the word’s meaning?

3. Why did workers at the Cincinnati Zoo arrange vegetables at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass?

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