Manatee Rescue in Florida Highlights Species’ Ongoing Struggles
A more than 400-pound manatee is recovering after a surprising ordeal: getting stuck in a storm drain in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
- A manatee became wedged in a storm drain while seeking warmer waters on February 10.
- Fire rescue teams, wildlife officials, and a towing service collaborated on the rescue.
- The rescued manatee is now receiving care at SeaWorld Orlando.
- Manatees remain a protected species, still vulnerable after a recent period of mass starvation.
A 410-pound manatee is on the mend at a theme park after an unusual rescue operation on Florida’s Space Coast. The marine mammal found itself in a tight spot – a storm drain – while searching for warmer waters, officials said.
Multiple fire rescue units, along with representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Florida, and even Jack’s Wrecker Service, responded to the scene in Melbourne Beach on Tuesday, February 10. A worker first spotted the distressed animal, according to Terry Cronin, the city’s Vice Mayor, who spoke with WESH-TV in Orlando.
“We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach. Our people were doing a survey. And one of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a baffle box,” Cronin explained.
A manatee got stuck in a storm drain in Florida(Image: Brevard County Fire and Rescue via AP)
The manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando, where it is currently being cared for in one of the park’s medical pools. There, experts are working to stabilize and rehabilitate the animal before its eventual return to the wild.
Brevard County Fire and Rescue help rescue manatee stuck in a storm drain(Image: Brevard County Fire and Rescue via AP)
SeaWorld Orlando has been actively involved in manatee rescue and rehabilitation. In 2025, the park rescued 56 manatees, and has already taken in seven this year, demonstrating the ongoing need for such efforts.
“He’s breathing on his own, moving independently and showing interest in food,” spokesperson Stephanie Bechara said, providing an update on the rescued manatee’s condition.
“Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care,” Bechara added.
The rescue comes as manatees continue to be classified as a protected species, still recovering from a significant die-off. In 2021, officials recorded more than 1,100 manatee deaths, largely attributed to starvation.
Fortunately, the situation has improved in recent years. Florida’s fish and wildlife agency reported 565 deaths in 2024 and 555 deaths in 2023, indicating a positive trend in the species’ recovery.
