News and Stories

Provides relief to overflowing SeaWorld rescue facility

 CINCINNATI, OH (March 24, 2021) – Three young manatees arrived at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s newly-renovated Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Manatee Springs early this morning, where they will be rehabilitated until they are ready to return to their native Florida waters.  The Zoo has been participating in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) for the past two decades and has cared for 23 manatees, including the newest residents.

“We started renovating our manatee facility after our last two residents, Pippen and Truffleshuffle, returned to Florida in September of 2020 and stepped up the construction schedule so we could provide a home for these three orphans.  We were originally slated to receive two animals. The third animal was added as result of the significant influx of rescued manatees at SeaWorld Orlando,” said Cincinnati Zoo curator Winton Ray.  “We look forward to helping these youngsters grow and eventually return to their native home.”

Two of the manatees already had names, Alby and Manhattan, and the MRP gave Cincinnati Zoo the opportunity to name the third.  The manatee team got creative and chose “SwimShady”, a play on the name of the song/nickname of rapper “SlimShady”. A gar named “Snoop Logg” is also a Manatee Springs resident!

Meet the Manatees:

• Alby (male) – Rescued as an orphan from the Halifax River in Volusia county, Florida on 8/27/2019. At the time of his rescue he weighed 51 lbs. Alby weighed 215 lbs on 10/27/2020.
• Manhattan (male) – Rescued as an orphan from St. Augustine Beach in St. Johns County, Florida on 10/28/2019. At the time of his rescue he weighed 62 lbs. Manhattan weighed 227 lbs on 10/05/2020.
• SwimShady (male) – Rescued as an orphan from Berkley Canal in Brevard County on 12/19/2020. At the time of his rescue he weighed 198 lbs.

Eighteen manatees rehabilitated at the Cincinnati Zoo have returned to Florida waters.  Most recently, Truffleshuffle shuffled out near Apollo Beach in the Tampa Bay area.

“The goal of the MRP is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release manatees, and we’re honored to play a role in this important conservation work,” said Ray.  “In addition to rehabbing manatees, we get to educate and inspire visitors when they see these amazing creatures!”

Cincinnati Zoo is one of two facilities outside of Florida that provides non-critical care for manatees.   Providing second-stage care opens up valuable space at critical care facilities like SeaWorld Orlando and gives Midwesterners the opportunity to learn about these remarkable animals.

The Florida manatee, downgraded from endangered to threatened in 2018, is at risk from both natural and man-made causes of injury and mortality. Exposure to red tide, cold stress, and disease are all problems that can affect manatees. Human-caused threats include boat strikes, crushing by flood gates or locks, and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear. Populations range-wide are believed to be at least 13,000, with more than 6,500 in the southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico, mostly in Florida.

The new manatees will be visible in Manatee Springs starting this Sunday, March 28.  The Cincinnati Zoo opens daily at 10 a.m.  Earlier reservations are available for Zoo members. Reservations are required and masks must be worn while at the Zoo. For more information, visit www.cincinnatizoo.org.

Special thanks to Chick-fil-A for their continued support of the Cincinnati Zoo’s manatee rehabilitation program.