Surrogate Manatee Mom, Who Has Helped Dozens of Baby Manatees, Is Caring for 2 More on Mother's Day

"The Aquatic Queen of Columbus Zoo," Stubby the manatee, is helping two orphaned calves prepare for their return to the wild, per the Ohio park

• Stubby the manatee arrived at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio in 2005 after a boat strike and is unfit to return to the wild

• Since her arrival at the zoo, Stubby has helped care for dozens of orphaned baby manatees who have come to the facility to recover from injuries

• The surrogate manatee mom will spend Mother's Day looking are two manatee calves at the zoo

Stubby the manatee is a mom to many.

The female manatee lives at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and is known as "the Aquatic Queen of Columbus Zoo," according to the Ohio facility. Stubby has earned this title by helping the zoo care for dozens of baby manatees who come to the park to recuperate after an injury.

Stubby herself is familiar with the recovery process. She arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2005 after a boat strike claimed 70 percent of her paddle-shaped tail.

Stubby has healed from this incident, but returning to the wild is unsafe for the manatee because of her lasting injuries. Every five years, Stubby is evaluated to see if she is ready to return to Florida's waters, but zoo officials feel it is unlikely the marine mammal's condition will change. So, Stubby has stayed at the Columbus Zoo and committed her time to helping other manatees.

Through its affiliation with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), the Columbus Zoo is a second-stage rehabilitation facility for injured manatees. It provides the animals with a temporary home and expert care while they recover.

When a young orphaned manatee enters the Manatee Coast habitat in the zoo's Shores and Aquarium region, Stubby serves as the "official greeter," showing the baby manatee around their new temporary home and providing the little animal with attention and support.

Stubby's efforts help the orphaned manatees learn how to survive independently. The calves often return to the wild after their time with their surrogate manatee mom. Stubby has helped dozens of young manatees during her two decades at the zoo.

Related: Footage of Manatee Hugging Florida Surfer's Board While in the Water Goes Viral: 'Hello, Beautiful!'

"She's the matriarch at Manatee Coast, and she makes our job easier thanks to the excellent guidance she provides to raise other manatees," Columbus Zoo manatee keeper Dan Nellis said.

"Stubby shows the newbies the ropes," Nellis added. "She nudges them to the surface to breathe and gives them a full tour of the main aquarium. She helps them find the food and is there for a snuggle when needed."

Because of Stubby's penchant for helping any orphaned manatee that swims into the Columbus Zoo, she rarely spends a Mother's Day alone, and this year is no different. Stubby will spend Mother's Day 2024 with Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk, two young male manatees who arrived at the zoo in the fall from Charlotte County, Fla.

Related: Rescued Animal Moms Being Treated to Massages, Mud Baths and More for Mother’s Day

"Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk are both a bit shy," Becky Ellsworth, the Columbus Zoo's Shores and Aquarium curator, said. "They take their cues from Stubby, eating when she eats and resting when she rests. They're learning the routine and will be big, strong, confident males soon."

According to the zoo, Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk are expected to return to Florida in the future to live out their lives as wild animals. While some animal lovers fear this goodbye might upset Stubby, keepers say the surrogate mom manatee will likely feel the opposite.

"When orphans leave, they are ready — and so is Stubby," Ellsworth said. "As soon as the older manatees leave, new ones come in and Stubby is once again ready to do her part. She has never been trained to do this—she completely does this on her own."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"As much as our care team does for these precious babies in need of rehabilitation, Stubby does an incredible job preparing them for success in ways that only another manatee can. On Mother's Day —and every day—we are beyond grateful for her nurturing, selfless nature," she added.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.