Bradenton aquarium nurtures manatee found injured near AMI
A manatee rescued from Anna Maria Sound is now swimming safe and sound at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.
The manatee, nicknamed Aria, was rescued in January and until earlier this month was receiving care at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The manatee was injured in a boat strike and suffering from cold stress.
The manatee — estimated to be about 18 months old — was moved Sept. 21 to Bishop’s Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, joining Janus and Iclyn, two other manatees in the Bishop’s care.
Aria weighed 220 pounds when she was rescued. The manatee’s weight on Sept. 21 was 340 pounds.
“It’s likely that Aria was struck by a boat and subsequently orphaned,” Virginia Edmonds, the Bishop’s director of animal care, said in a news release. “And since she was injured in January and may not have known where to find a warm-water refuge without her mother’s guidance, she also suffered from cold stress. We’re glad we’re here to help care for this young manatee and get her ready to return to the wild.”
Manatees have rehabbed since 1998 at the museum, where the habitat allows them time to recover from illness or injury and prepare for a return to the wild.
Bishop CEO Hillary Spencer said, “This year has been especially tough for manatees throughout Florida. More manatees have died in 2021 than in any other year in the state’s history — making rescue and rehabilitation programs like ours more important than ever.”
The museum is at 201 10th St. W., Bradenton.
GoodDeeds for manatees
Bishop recently announced a monthly support program for manatees — Bishop Foster Friends — in partnership with Florida Power and Light.
FPL will match up to $20,000 of donations made to Bishop Foster Friends to support manatee care.
For more information, go online to www.bishopscience.org/bff or call the museum at 941-746-4131.
— Lisa Neff