410-Pound Manatee Rescued from Florida Storm Drain

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A 410-pound male manatee was rescued from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach, Florida, after a city worker spotted the animal stuck during a routine drain survey. Crews were called in to pull the manatee from the drain, and the animal is now recovering at SeaWorld Orlando.

Why it matters

Manatee rescues are critical to protect these vulnerable marine mammals, which are classified as threatened in Florida. The incident highlights the risks manatees face from human infrastructure and the importance of vigilant monitoring to identify and assist stranded animals.

The details

The manatee was discovered stuck in a storm drain in Melbourne Beach, a coastal city in Florida, during a routine drain survey by a city worker. Multiple fire and rescue crews were called in to carefully extract the 410-pound male manatee from the drain. The rescued animal was then transported to SeaWorld Orlando, where it is currently recovering.

• On Tuesday, a city worker in Melbourne Beach spotted the manatee stuck in a storm drain during a routine survey.
• Rescue crews were called in the same day to extract the 410-pound male manatee from the drain.