Stranded Manatee Saved By Concerned Beachgoers
- 10 years ago
On Wednesday, swimmers, boaters and sunbathers in Florida saved a stranded manatee that somehow ended up on the sands. A group of people on Disappearing Island near Ponce Inlet gathered around the creature and did everything they could to help the sea cow until wildlife staffers arrived on scene.
You never know how humans will react to seeing a beached sea creature.
On Wednesday, swimmers, boaters and sunbathers in Florida saved a stranded manatee that somehow ended up on the sands. A group of people on Disappearing Island near Ponce Inlet gathered around the creature and did everything they could to help the sea cow until wildlife staffers arrived on scene.
They put up a shade and tried to hydrate the adult manatee. County volunteers administered oxygen via a scuba tank. Manatees commonly swim in shallow waters and sometimes beach themselves during mating season.
In this case, officials aren’t sure if the manatee beached on her own or if she was nudged to the shore by males. Florida Fish and Wildlife employees eventually got to the beach to help the sea cow get back into the ocean, as she appeared too exhausted to make her way back to the water.
Staffers helped organize the crowd of beachgoers and together, they were able to lift the heavy animal up on a stretcher and carry her back into the water.
You never know how humans will react to seeing a beached sea creature.
On Wednesday, swimmers, boaters and sunbathers in Florida saved a stranded manatee that somehow ended up on the sands. A group of people on Disappearing Island near Ponce Inlet gathered around the creature and did everything they could to help the sea cow until wildlife staffers arrived on scene.
They put up a shade and tried to hydrate the adult manatee. County volunteers administered oxygen via a scuba tank. Manatees commonly swim in shallow waters and sometimes beach themselves during mating season.
In this case, officials aren’t sure if the manatee beached on her own or if she was nudged to the shore by males. Florida Fish and Wildlife employees eventually got to the beach to help the sea cow get back into the ocean, as she appeared too exhausted to make her way back to the water.
Staffers helped organize the crowd of beachgoers and together, they were able to lift the heavy animal up on a stretcher and carry her back into the water.