ZooTampa sets a manatee rescue record as threats grow

Zoo releases most manatees ever in 2025

ZooTampa at Lowry Park put 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters in 2025, the most the zoo has ever released in a single year. The zoo also took in 28 manatees, another record.

The milestones come at a tough time for the species.

Hundreds of manatees died statewide last year, and a proposed federal rule could strip away key habitat protections. As of early January 2026, 19 manatees remained in critical care at the facility.

Straz Center has treated manatees since 1991

The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center is the largest nonprofit manatee care facility in the country. Since opening in 1991, the center has treated more than 615 manatees, and most made it back to the wild.

The team includes two veterinarians certified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for manatee critical care, and staff stay on call around the clock, every day of the year.

The zoo spends close to $2 million a year on rescue and rehabilitation.

Hurricanes left Mudonna stranded and starving

One of the 26 released manatees was Mudonna, rescued in November 2024.

Rescuers found her stuck on a mud flat in just five inches of water, weeks after Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through the area.

Temperatures had dropped to about 30 degrees, and she had no way to reach open water or food. She weighed just 345 pounds at rescue, far below the roughly 1,000-pound average for an adult manatee.

Mudonna gained 350 pounds and went home

Getting Mudonna back on her fins took a team effort.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue, and ZooTampa all played a role.

After more than a year of rehab, she gained over 350 pounds and weighed more than 700 pounds by the time staff released her into Crystal River on Dec. 18, 2025.

Her case shows how hurricane damage can trap manatees in shallow, food-poor areas.

More than 600 manatees died last year

Preliminary FWC data shows 628 manatees died across Florida in 2025.

That’s up from 565 deaths in 2024, though it falls below the five-year average of about 719 deaths per year. Brevard County recorded the most fatalities at 118, followed by Lee County at 113.

The numbers paint a mixed picture: things are better than the worst years, but hundreds of manatees are still dying annually across the state.

Boats remain the top human-caused threat

Watercraft collisions killed 97 manatees in 2025, making them the leading human-caused factor. Other dangers included flood gates, canal locks, and marine debris.

Cold stress killed 33 manatees, and wildlife officials recorded 135 perinatal deaths. FWC urges boaters to slow down in posted manatee zones and stay alert on the water.

Between fast boats and cold snaps, Florida’s manatees face threats from all directions.

Officials closed the mass die-off investigation

The FWC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially closed the Unusual Mortality Event on March 14, 2025. The crisis ran from December 2020 through April 2022 along Florida’s Atlantic coast.

During that stretch, 1,255 manatees died and rescuers saved 137.

Pollution and algal blooms wiped out seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon, cutting off the manatees’ main food source.

No starvation-related manatee death has been recorded in two years, but experts warn the root causes of seagrass loss are not fully fixed.

Proposed federal rule targets habitat protections

In April 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service proposed removing the definition of “harm” from the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Right now, that definition includes habitat destruction as a form of prohibited “take” of protected species. If the rule goes through, the ESA would only cover actions that directly injure or kill listed species.

The proposal drew more than 357,000 public comments before the window closed in May 2025. No final rule had been issued as of early 2026.

Both sides weigh in on the ESA change

Wildlife groups including Defenders of Wildlife say dropping the “harm” definition could weaken protections for manatees and other threatened species by ignoring habitat damage.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has said the administration wants to restore the ESA to its “original intent,” protecting species through clear standards that also respect American livelihoods.

Manatees are listed as threatened, not endangered, under the ESA.

They also have protections under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978.

Manatees still face a long list of dangers

Seagrass loss continues in Biscayne Bay, parts of Tampa Bay, and the St. Johns River. Hurricanes send saltwater surges through coastal areas, damaging the seagrass beds manatees depend on.

Cold stress kicks in when water temperatures drop below about 68 to 72 degrees. Harmful algal blooms, including red tide, release toxins that can kill manatees outright.

And Florida’s growing population means more boats on the water and more chances for collisions.

ZooTampa opens a major new facility this spring

The Straz Family Manatee Rescue center anchors ZooTampa’s new Florida Waters expansion, the largest in the zoo’s history. The project raised about $33 million through private donations and public investment.

Visitors will get eye-level underwater views of manatees during rehabilitation.

Florida Waters will also feature an otter habitat, a reef fish tank, moon jellies, and a reptile and amphibian exhibit. The expansion opens in spring 2026.

Here is how you can help manatees

If you spot an injured, sick, or dead manatee, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. Boaters should obey posted speed zones in manatee areas.

Cutting back on lawn fertilizer helps protect waterways and the seagrass manatees need to survive. ZooTampa is a nonprofit that funds its manatee program through ticket sales, donations, and grants.

The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership brings together more than 20 conservation groups and zoos nationwide to coordinate rescue efforts.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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