SeaWorld Rescues Manatees in South Carolina

The SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team worked with several other organizations to rescue 10 manatees from the Cooper River in South Carolina from November 28-30.

While SeaWorld is known for their theme parks, the company also takes the preservation of the environment very seriously. The manatees were spotted near a warm water outflow area of the Cooper River, but due to dropping temperatures, the animals stayed in the area instead of continuing south.

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By staying close to the warm water outflow instead of continuing their migration south, the manatees were isolated from adequate food sources and naturally warm waters. The SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team worked with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to rescue and relocate the animals.

Over the course of three days, the interagency rescue team captured 10 manatees from the Cooper River, including eight males and two females. Each animal was given a full health assessment and nine of the manatees were released in Brevard County, Florida.

One of the female manatees showed signs of mild cold stress and was transferred to the Jacksonville Zoo for treatment. SeaWorld officials said the animal is doing well.

“It is particularly gratifying to be a part of such a large scale effort, with partners from all over the Southeast lending expertise and manpower,” SeaWorld’s rescue manager Jon Peterson said in a statement. “When you can give ten threatened animals another chance at life, that is a great week.”

READ MORE: Save the Ocean with SeaWorld

From a theme park perspective, SeaWorld Orlando has announced several new shows and attractions scheduled to open in 2018, including the all-new Three Kings Day celebration, Just for Kids weekends and the Infinity Falls ride.

Scheduled to debut in summer 2018, the Infinity Falls attraction was inspired by South American rainforests and will feature rapids, a vertical lift and a variety of interactive experiences.

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