STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

More Local News

• Workplace winners, part 1
• The difference an education can make
• Junk money and subtrusts

Share and Enjoy [?]

America is free.

America, a 700-pound manatee found injured on July 4, was released Wednesday afternoon into the waters of Rookery Bay with 30 well-wishers on hand to help declare her independence from captivity.

Veterinarians from the Miami Seaquarium and officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trucked America from Miami to the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, between Naples and Marco Island, for the release following four months of round-the-clock medical care. FWC Officer Mark Mahoney found America with two deep gashes on her head and near paralysis while on patrol near Johnson Bay on Independence Day and feared for her life when he radioed for assistance. Wednesday he watched America’s release.

“It’s good to see the success story and not just the disaster,” Mahoney said.

For her part, America, who veterinarians estimated was younger than 10 years old, appeared subdued during her release.

When Seaquarium employees arrived and opened up their truck to reveal America, she lay still like a gray torpedo on a blue tarp and foam padding. The workers sprayed water on her back and jostled her with the cords needed to lift her from the truck. The sea cow gazed forward like she couldn’t be bothered with the fuss and sniffed out her half-dollar sized nostrils.

Twelve people gripped the cords on the blue tarp to haul America to the ground. Groups gathered for pictures around her hulking frame. Seven Seaquarium employees knelt next to her. “Say manatee!” said the woman with the camera before snapping the picture. Wayne Maahs, a lieutenant with the FWC, tickled America’s back when he posed.

Michael Renner, a staff veterinarian at the Seaquarium and America’s doctor, said America was more tranquil than your average manatee.

“She’s very mellow,” he said. “She was one of those ones that don’t do a lot. But she’ll be a different animal when she hits the water.”

During her four months in the Seaquarium’s care, Renner said, she was close to becoming another unwelcome statistic. According to FWC data, there have been 282 manatee deaths in Florida so far this year, 67 due to watercraft injuries. Collier and Lee counties have accounted for more than a third of the deaths, with 18 coming because of watercraft.

When America came to the Seaquarium she had severe head trauma and didn’t eat out of anything other than a tube for two to three months. Renner said the most memorable moment from America’s recovery is when she ate lettuce for the first time.

“She’s sort of still fixated on us,” he said. “You can’t treat them so long and not have that happen a bit.”

The crew carried America to the nearby water and splashed her in. America floated with her nose out of the water to breathe. Amid a round of applause, she disappeared into the green water.