As the calendar flipped to 2026, the manatee rescue team at Dolphin Research Center (DRC) celebrated its first win in the young year.
The team successfully rescued a young manatee calf in Marathon following a complex, multi-hour operation that required extraordinary care to protect both the calf and its mother.
The rescue team was alerted to a manatee calf that had a fan belt tightly wrapped around its body. While the calf was still mobile, the belt posed a serious and growing threat. As the animal continued to grow, the constricting material would have caused severe injuries and, ultimately, fatal damage if left unaddressed.
Because the manatee was a calf, the rescue required a particularly delicate approach. The team was careful to not spook the mother and cause separation, putting the calf at even greater risk. The DRC rescue team carefully monitored the pair and worked over several hours to ensure the mother remained nearby and calm throughout the operation.
The team was able to safely cut and remove the fan belt from the calf before it became deeply embedded in the animal’s body. The successful removal prevented long-term injury and allowed the calf to remain with its mother following the rescue.
“This was a situation where patience and precision were absolutely critical,” said Allie Proskovec, DRC’s director of media and marketing. “We’re grateful the belt was discovered when it was, and that we were able to intervene before it caused irreversible harm.”
This rescue highlights the ongoing dangers marine debris and discarded materials pose to wildlife in Florida waters. Dolphin Research Center encourages the public to report distressed marine mammals immediately and to properly dispose of fishing gear, belts and other materials that can end up in the ocean.
As the sole licensed manatee rescue team in the Keys, DRC urges anyone who spots a manatee that may be injured, entangled or in distress to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
