Manatee Mom, Baby Set For Tarpon Springs Release

Tarpon Springs, FL — Tarpon Springs’ population will rise by two Thursday morning when a mother manatee and her calf are returned to the wild following a three-month hospitalization at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

The zoo announced Wednesday that Shamrock, an 810-pound female, has been given a green light for release following a run-in with a boat. Shamrock was rescued on March 15 in waters near Tarpon Springs, the zoo said. She had a collapsed lung following the strike.

To ensure the health of both Shamrock and her baby, Emerald, rescuers brought both to Lowry Park Zoo for care.

The two are expected to be released from the boat ramp at Craig Park on Library Court Thursday morning. The zoo estimates the pair will arrive around 10:45 a.m. The location was selected because it is situated right on Spring Bayou, which serves as a winter home to many manatees, an email from the zoo stated.

Shamrock and her 335-pound female calf Emerald will be the 231st and 232nd manatees, respectively, to be rehabilitated and released by the zoo since it opened its David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Hospital in 1991 to provide care for sick and wounded manatees from across the state. Since its inception, the hospital has cared for more than 400 manatees.

Last week’s successful release of Shorley marked the 230th successful rehabilitation for the hospital.

Manatees cared for at the hospital come in suffering from a variety of conditions. The zoo’s team has treated manatees for such concerns as boat strikes, red tide exposure, cold stress and entanglement. The hospital also takes in orphaned manatees.

“This endangered species has been at the heart of the zoo’s commitment to conserving Florida wildlife for 25 years,” explained Larry Killmar, Lowry Park’s chief zoologicial officer, senior vice president and zoo director. “We focus on the welfare of each manatee patient that comes to us so that we can help to conserve the species in Florida waterways. Conservation education programs at the zoo reach more than 1 million visitors annually about how to protect manatees when they leave our hospital.”

Lowry Park’s manatee hospital is the only nonprofit, acute care facility of its kind and is one of only three federally permitted rehabilitation facilities in the state, the zoo said.

As a nonprofit organization, the zoo relies heavily on donations to fund its manatee hospital and other animal care efforts.

“Without support from you and others in our community, the zoo cannot continue critical care of manatees,” it explained on its website.

To help fund the 231st successful manatee rehabilitation and release, visit Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo online.

Photo courtesy of Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo