SeaWorld Animal Care Specialists were given a late Christmas present -- a 10-foot-long, 1,000-pound male manatee -- delivered by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission late Monday night. He was rescued from southwest Okeechobee and is suffering from cold stress.
SeaWorld animal experts say he's quite lethargic. They are tubing him twice daily -- first with water to keep him hydrated, and just today switched to a light gruel filled with calories to fatten him up.
SeaWorld is the global leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees. The park's Animal Rescue Team is on call 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. This year alone, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued 26 and released 16 manatees.
