KEY LARGO, Fla. — Scientists at SeaWorld rehabilitate so many injured manatees, many from the Florida Keys, that they have trouble coming up with creative names for the aquatic mammals.
Last year, “we had a bread theme,” said Lorri Braso, a supervisory animal rescuer at the Orlando theme park and aquarium.
Introducing Garlic Knot, a 965-pound male manatee brought down from SeaWorld Wednesday by truck and released back into the wild in Key Largo by park scientists, biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and staff and volunteers from the Keys’ Dolphin Research Center.
Manatee injured in Marathon
Garlic Knot, just under 10 feet long, was rescued from the water off Marathon in the Middle Keys with a deep boat propeller wound. The manatee was brought to SeaWorld on New Year’s Eve, said Amber Howell, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist and research associate.
“He was buoyant and couldn’t submerge,” Howell said.
Fortunately, even though Garlic Knot’s cut was deep, it didn’t affect internal organs, Braso said. And, it turned out that his problems submerging were due to gas trapped in his gastrointestinal tract and resolved after getting meds, Braso said.
He also started eating sooner than many of the injured manatees treated at SeaWorld.
“We generally give three days of fluids when they get here. If they don’t start eating, we’ll start giving them nutrition,” Braso said. “In his case, he started eating pretty much right away. And then, it’s just a matter of healing.”
Homecoming
Over the past few months, Garlic Knot began gaining weight and was eventually medically cleared to return to the wild.
After driving him down in a large SeaWorld box truck, biologists and volunteers measured him and marked locations on his body where scars are located so they can be visually tracked in the water.
He was then lowered down a boat ramp at Calusa Campground in a tarp before slowly swimming off, punctuated by the cheers of the scientists and a small crown of curious onlookers gathered on the docks.
Even though he was rescued from Marathon, the scientists decided to put him back in the water in Key Largo, which is located about an hour’s drive north, to lessen the time he was in the truck, Howell said. Manatees cover so much distance throughout the year, so the scientists are pretty sure Garlic Knot wouldn’t be a stranger wherever he was released.
“He had a sighting history from Port Everglades to Marathon, so that’s why chose here, to save him an extra hour drive in the truck,” Howell said. “We know he knows this area.”
Manatee appreciation
Garlic Knot’s release Wednesday coincided with Manatee Appreciation Day. Although the population of the mammals in Florida has rebounded over the past 30 years — from an estimated roughly 1,267 in 1991 to about 6,300 today — they are still protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
That means that by law, you have to give them space, not feed them and not even give them that fresh hose water from the dock they so love.
“Just watch from a distance. We don’t want anyone harassing manatees, so stay back and observe,” Howell said. “Don’t chase after them. Don’t offer them food and water. And, don’t try to touch them or swim with them.”
The biggest threat to manatees, as evidenced by the many scars you see on most of their backs, is boats, particularly their propellers. Howell has some advice on how boaters can enjoy a day on the water while keeping the mammals safe.
“We just want to make sure boaters are keeping an eye out for manatees. Wear polarized sunglasses that will help cut the glare off the water. Look for the footprint, which is a swirl behind where the manatee is swimming,” she said.
“That way, you’ll know a manatee is in the area. And, just maintain those manatee speed zones.”
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