Columbus Zoo receives three new manatees for rehabilitation, send two back to Florida

POWELL, Ohio ( WCMH ) – Five manatees from Ohio, including two from the Columbus Zoo, are heading south in continuance with their journey toward rehabilitation.

Nighthawk and Mr. Dobak, who have a combined weight of 1,175 pounds, were flown from Cincinnati to SeaWorld in Orlando, where they will continue to be cared for until they are released into the Florida waters sometime this winter or spring after the new year.

The two male manatees were initially rescued as orphan calves from Charlotte County, Florida, in January 2023. At the time of their rescue, they were observed with declining body conditions before receiving professional care and eventually arriving at the Columbus Zoo in October 2023.

Nighhawk now weighs 678 pounds while Mr. Dobak tips the scales at 497 pounds.

They will be joined by Nolia, Amethyst, and Waffles, all female manatees from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, who will be taken in by ZooTampa’s Manatee Critical Care Center.

In a trade, of sorts, The Columbus Zoo received three orphaned manatees—two females and one male: Clawford (456 pounds) and Sabal (345 pounds) along with Cobble (360 pounds). They joined long-term resident and fan favorite, Stubby, Tuesday.

Due to Stubby’s extensive injuries from a boat strike, she is considered a conditionally non-releasable animal. Her condition is evaluated every five years to determine if she is ready or not to return to Florida, but it is unlikely that she will move out of this category. Cobble, Clawford, and Sabal have reportedly quickly taken to Stubby, and she already has a strong interest in them, showing the new arrivals around the habitat.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden also recently welcomed three new manatees, Lilypad, Orchid, and Vora, from SeaWorld Orlando.

The Ohio facilities are two of only three, along with the Georgia Aquarium, outside of Florida that cares for manatees. The zoo is a second stage rehabilitation facility that provides a temporary home for manatees until they are ready for release back to the wild.

Including these manatees who recently left Ohio, the Columbus Zoo has returned 39 manatees to Florida, and the Cincinnati Zoo has returned 27 for release and cared for 32. To date, ZooTampa has treated more than 500 manatees, and SeaWorld Orlando has helped rescue and rehabilitate over 990 manatees, including 45 in 2024.

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