Sea to Shore Alliance manatee researchers found “Shorty” the manatee near Marco Island thanks to public sightings reported in to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission dispatch.
“Shorty” was in good condition and biologists with Sea to Shore Alliance fitted her with a new radio-transmitter. Follow Shorty's whereabouts soon at wildtracks.org.
“Shorty” was a calf when she was rescued from Faka Union Canal in Port of the Islands in Collier County on Feb. 9, 2011. She was rescued due to cold stress and brought for treatment to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, where she remained until fully recovered and released into the Port of the Islands on March 14. The Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership, a cooperative effort of nonprofit, private, state and federal entities, equipped “Shorty” with tracking gear to help researchers and veterinarians monitor her health and re-adaptation to the wild. Since “Shorty’s” release, she has used waterways from the Port of the Isles to Marco Island and areas around Goodland.
On May 8, “Shorty’s” radio-transmitter tag stopped working just southeast of Goodland. With the radio-transmitter not functioning researchers were unable to locate “Shorty” and asked for the public's help last week.
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 1
condoseller writes:
Great story! Thank you.
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