SeaWorld released the statement below regarding the 1,000th manatee rescued via the SeaWorld Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership.
SeaWorld Orlando has reached a historic milestone – 1,000 manatee rescues – marking a significant step in the ongoing fight to protect this vulnerable species. This achievement highlights SeaWorld’s leadership in marine conservation, reinforcing its critical role in rescue, rehabilitation and return efforts.
SeaWorld Orlando has spent nearly five decades committed to marine wildlife conservation and rescue. Since 1976, SeaWorld Orlando’s dedicated rescue team has operated one of only three critical care facilities in the nation, responding to manatees in need due to cold stress, boat strikes, entanglements and other life-threatening conditions. With state-of-the-art resources, including temperature-controlled recovery pools, diagnostic equipment and a specialized team of veterinarians and experts, SeaWorld Orlando’s facility has earned its reputation as a leading center for manatee rehabilitation.
Through the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), SeaWorld Orlando collaborates with federal, state and nonprofit organizations to rescue, rehabilitate and release manatees, strengthening conservation efforts across Florida. This coordinated effort plays a vital role in addressing the challenges faced by manatees and in preserving a healthy ecosystem in Florida’s waters. In 2024 alone, SeaWorld Orlando rescued 61 manatees and was able to rehabilitate and return 38 manatees.
Beyond rescue and rehabilitation, SeaWorld Orlando is committed to educating the public on manatee conservation through in-park programs, partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other community outreach efforts. The facility’s team works continuously to increase public awareness on safe boating practices, environmental stewardship and actions that individuals can take to protect manatees.
“Congratulations to SeaWorld on its 1,000th manatee rescue – an incredible milestone that underscores their vital role in ensuring the future of Florida manatees,” said Terri Calleson, Florida manatee recovery lead for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “SeaWorld consistently goes above and beyond, often caring for more than 40 manatees at a time and leading rescues outside Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is deeply grateful for our partnership with SeaWorld Orlando in advancing manatee conservation through rescue, rehabilitation, and the successful return of hundreds of manatees back to the wild.”
A testament to the life-saving work being done at SeaWorld Orlando was the rescue and rehabilitation of Reckless and Churro, a mother-daughter manatee pair. Rescued in 2022, Reckless suffered a catastrophic boat strike that shattered her shoulder, leaving her in critical condition. Her newborn calf, Churro, was just one to two days old at the time of rescue. Over 20 months of intensive care, SeaWorld Orlando’s expert veterinary team performed 12 lifesaving procedures and provided more than 17,000 hours of specialized care to ensure the pair could be successfully returned to their natural habitat. Their story highlights the extraordinary efforts SeaWorld Orlando undertakes to save individual animals while contributing to the long-term survival of the species.
“Reaching 1,000 manatee rescues is an incredible achievement and reflects the decades of dedication from our expert rescue team, who have devoted their careers to ensuring the survival of Florida’s manatee population,” said Dr. Joseph Gaspard, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando and Vice Chair of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. “The support of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership has been instrumental in our efforts, and together, we are making strides toward securing a future for these gentle giants.”
“Manatees are an iconic part of Florida’s ecosystem, and we are honored to play a key role in their conservation. By rescuing, rehabilitating and hopefully returning these animals, we not only save individual lives but also inspire our guests to join us in protecting these amazing creatures,” said Jon Peterson, Park President of SeaWorld Orlando.
As SeaWorld Orlando commemorates this landmark achievement, the rescue team encourages everyone to support manatee conservation by being mindful on the water, reporting distressed or stranded animals and spreading awareness of manatee conservation.
SeaWorld’s legacy of animal rescue spans more than 60 years. In that time, SeaWorld’s Rescue Teams have aided over 41,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals in need, giving them a second chance at life. None of this would be possible without the continued support of partner agencies, park guests, Pass Members and dedicated team members, as well as the people across the globe taking action to protect these amazing animals and their habitats. SeaWorld’s Rescue teams are on call 24/7/365 to rescue and help animals in need of care.
For more information about SeaWorld Orlando’s rescue efforts and how to support the mission, please visit SeaWorld.com.
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