On June 18 Dolphin Research Center (DRC) partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to rescue a manatee mother and her calf in Marathon.
The adult female manatee was found with a fishing line tightly wrapped around her right pectoral flipper. The line had cut more than an inch deep into her flesh, posing a severe risk to her health. Her calf stayed by her side throughout the rescue.
Dr. Scott Gearhart, Dolphin Research Center’s full-time veterinarian, provided urgent medical treatment, removing the fishing line and treating the wound. Thanks to the rapid response and expert care, both the mother and calf were released back into the wild the same day.
“This incident is a powerful reminder of why it’s critical to always properly dispose of fishing line and gear,” said Gearhart. “Entanglement injuries can be life-threatening, and they’re preventable with responsible action from the public.”
DRC encourages 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).
