Manatee rescued on New Year's Day released in Crystal River, Florida

by Dauphin Island Sea Lab
ella watts and sophia corde help measure owa the manatee
Carmichael Lab members Ella Watts and Sophia Corde help measure OWA the manatee before his release into Crystal Springs, Florida. (Courtesy DISL/MSN)

The manatee rescued in Magnolia Springs on New Year’s Day is out of rehab and back in the wild. The manatee, named OWA, was released in Crystal River, Florida this week. Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael and her students, Sophia Corde and Ella Watts, had the chance to participate in the OWA’s release. They joined teams from SeaWorld Orlando, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as many volunteers, for the release.

OWA was first spotted in distress on December 29 by a resident in the upper reaches of the Magnolia River. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network team determined OWA was lethargic and showing early signs of cold stress. He was rescued on January 1 and transported to SeaWorld Orlando for recovery with the help of members of the Manatee Rescue Partnership and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division.

owa the manatee is prepared for release
Partner agencies work together to get OWA the manatee ready for release into Crystal Springs, Florida. (Courtesy DISL/MSN)

Two weeks before OWA’s rescue, DISL’s team rescued another manatee in the Theodore Ship Channel just before Christmas. Now named Mardi Gras, the male manatee is scheduled to join OWA in the warm waters of Crystal River, Florida in the coming weeks.

“After a tough winter, with unusually cold temperatures and a record number of manatee strandings from Alabama through Louisiana, it is inspiring and rewarding to have our rescued manatees make it through recovery to release,” said Dr. Ruth Carmichael. “We are very grateful for the support and hard work of our partners in Florida and here on the northern Gulf, including local residents who report sightings, to make rescue and recovery possible.”

Manatees rely on water temperatures above about 68°F (20°C) to survive, making most areas in the United States outside of Florida too cold for them to remain year-round. OWA’s rescue, rehabilitation, and release highlight the importance of year-round reporting of manatee sightings to DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network, especially during the winter when animals are at a greater risk of becoming distressed and sick.

Please report manatee sightings as soon as possible to DISL/MSN by dialing 1-866-493-5803. If animals appear sick or distressed, choose the emergency reporting option when prompted. Non-emergency sightings can also be reported online at manatee.disl.edu.

To donate to support our response efforts or for more information on manatees in our area and recommendations on safely sharing our local waterways with these protected marine mammals, visit manatee.disl.edu.