3 Rehabbed Manatees Returned To Wild By Bishop Museum: Watch

BRADENTON, FL — Three female manatees in the care of The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature were successfully released to the wild Friday. (Watch a short video of their release below.)

The manatees were at the second-stage rehabilitation for about a year-and-a-half after being rescued, the museum shared in a Facebook post.

Janus and Iclyn were brought to the rehab together in June 2021 to be treated for cold stress. Aria was brought to the facility separately after being hit by a boat in September of that year.

“It was great being able to return Aria, Janus, and Iclyn back to the wild,” Virginia Edmonds, director of animal care for The Bishop, said. “We have reached the goal we share for every rescued manatee, help them recover and return them home.”

The manatees were returned to a warm water site at the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center on Apollo Beach, a natural habitat they would most likely use during the winter, the museum said in a news release. They were released with help from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tampa Electric (TECO) staff, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory, and ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

Before her release, Aria, the youngest manatee at rescue, was outfitted with a satellite-linked transmitter that will allow researchers, biologists and organizations, like The Bishop, that were involved in her rescue and rehabilitation to monitor her health and movements. The public can watch her movements online here.

With the manatees’ release to the wild, there will be a temporary vacancy at the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat while staff performs routine maintenance to the facility.

“Unfortunately, the need for manatee rehabilitation is great and we will have new short-term residents to care for soon,” the museum wrote on its website.

The new manatees coming to The Bishop will be transferred from one of the three critical care centers in the region.

The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat is a Stage 2 rehabilitation facility that serves as a temporary home where manatees come after their initial critical-care needs have been met in manatee hospitals. This facility offers manatees natural foods and feeding strategies while they gain weight for their return to the wild.

Watch video footage from the museum's recent manatee release: