Two manatees rescued as youngsters are back in their home Keys waters, thanks to two Middle Keys rescue and rehab groups and statewide partnerships.
On March 11, a crowd of fans at Calusa Campground cheered the release of “Luca” and “Giovanni,” both ready for a return to the wild after gaining hundreds of pounds during their rehab journeys.
Giovanni was rescued from Vaca Key on Aug. 7, 2024 as a young calf after manatee rescue responders determined he had been orphaned. The area was monitored for several days in hopes that his mother would return, but when she did not, rescuers intervened to provide the care needed to give the calf the best chance of survival.
Nine months later, rescue teams saved Luca from Key Largo’s South Sound Creek on May 5 when the juvenile manatee was found with buoyancy issues.
Following their rescues, both manatees were transported to SeaWorld Orlando for specialized medical care and rehabilitation. After completing their primary rehabilitation, and due to their young ages, Luca and Giovanni were later transferred to Aquarium Encounters in Marathon in September 2025, where they continued to grow and build strength while awaiting release.
Weighing just 141 and 339 pounds at the time of their rescues, respectively, both Giovanni and Luca packed on the weight throughout their rehab, tipping the scales at 698 and 624 pounds at the time of their release.
The rescue, rehabilitation, and release of the manatees is part of a statewide conservation effort led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and supported by a network of dedicated rescue and rehabilitation partners throughout Florida, including Dolphin Research Center, Aquarium Encounters and SeaWorld.
Members of the public who encounter a sick, injured or orphaned manatee are encouraged to report it to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
