At least 8,300 manatees live in Florida’s waterways, according to state wildlife officials. That number is up from 50 years ago. But the large mammals are still at risk. 

One of the biggest threats to manatees is a decline in their main food source. On average, adult manatees eat about 100 pounds of seagrass a day. The herbivores graze so much that they’re often called “sea cows.” But sewage and other pollution is causing much of the seagrass along Florida’s coastlines to disappear. A record 1,100 manatees died in Florida in 2021.

State wildlife officials say that at least 8,300 manatees live in Florida’s waterways.  That number is up from 50 years ago. But the large mammals are still at risk. 

One of the biggest threats to manatees is a decline in their main food source. On average, adult manatees eat about 100 pounds of seagrass a day. The herbivores graze so much that they’re often called “sea cows.” But much of the seagrass along Florida’s coastlines is disappearing. This is because of sewage and other pollution. A record 1,100 manatees died in Florida in 2021.

Workers at ZooTampa cared for the orphaned manatees day and night. Caretakers made buckets of special formula that they fed to the calves from baby bottles. By November 2022, Piccolina, the smallest of the three orphans, weighed about 375 pounds. But experts say manatees should weigh at least 600 pounds before they are released back into the wild.

To free up space for other manatees in need, Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina were moved to another facility. They were loaded onto planes and flown nearly 800 miles to the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. 

“When we first got those girls, they were very scared,” explains Tara Lay, a zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo.  

Slowly, the gentle giants became more confident. They also grew stronger. Lay and other workers fed the manatees leafy greens arranged at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass. 

Workers at ZooTampa cared for the orphaned manatees day and night. Caretakers made buckets of special formula. They fed the formula to the calves from baby bottles. Piccolina was the smallest of the three orphans. By November 2022, she weighed about 375 pounds. But experts say manatees should be heavier before they are released into the wild. The three orphans needed to weigh at least 600 pounds.

The zoo had to free up space for other manatees in need. So Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina were moved to another facility. They were loaded onto planes. Then they were flown nearly 800 miles to the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. 

“When we first got those girls, they were very scared,” explains Tara Lay. She’s a zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo.  

Slowly, the gentle giants became more confident. They also grew stronger. Lay and other workers fed the manatees leafy greens. They arranged the greens at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass. 

After 11 months in Cincinnati, the orphans were big enough to be released back into the wild. That meant a trip back to Florida. Workers placed the animals into huge padded containers. Then they put the manatees on trucks that took them to the airport.  

After a few months back at ZooTampa, it was time for the caretakers to say goodbye. Researchers fitted the manatees with tracking devices so they could check on the animals. Calliope and Soleil were released on February 13. Piccolina joined them the next day.

“It was really cute,” Lay says. “They had a little bit of a reunion once they all got out there.”  

Lay was sad to see the girls go. But she was happy the manatees were back where they belong.

“I definitely cried a lot of tears of joy,” she says. “Watching them out there with other manatees, it was very rewarding.”

The orphans spent 11 months in Cincinnati. Then they were big enough to be released back into the wild. That meant a trip back to Florida. Workers placed the animals into huge padded containers. Then they put the manatees on trucks that took them to the airport.  

The manatees spent a few months back at ZooTampa. Then it was time for the caretakers to say goodbye. Researchers fitted the manatees with tracking devices so they could check on the animals. Calliope and Soleil were released on February 13. Piccolina joined them the next day.

“It was really cute,” Lay says. “They had a little bit of a reunion once they all got out there.”  

Lay was sad to see the girls go. But she was happy they were back where they belong.

“I definitely cried a lot of tears of joy,” she says. “Watching them out there with other manatees, it was very rewarding.”

1. Why did rescue workers step in to try to help the three manatees?
2. According to the Words to Know box, what are herbivores? What clues in the article help you understand this meaning?
3. Why do you think workers at the Cincinnati Zoo arranged the manatees’ greens at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass?

1. Why did rescue workers step in to try to help the three manatees?
2. According to the Words to Know box, what are herbivores? What clues in the article help you understand this meaning?
3. Why do you think workers at the Cincinnati Zoo arranged the manatees’ greens at the bottom of a tank to look like seagrass?