Manatee rescued for second time in Tampa Bay area

Garrett Phillips
·1 min read
2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A thin manatee named “Flapjack” was rescued for a second time in the Tampa Bay area, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

FWC said its staff, along with ZooTampa, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, rescued Flapjack from entrapment in Clam Bayou, a retention pond system in St. Pete, last week.

  • An image of ‘Flapjack’ after the rescue. Credit: FWC
    An image of ‘Flapjack’ after the rescue. Credit: FWC
  • An image of ‘Flapjack’ being checked for PIT Tags. Credit: FWC
    An image of ‘Flapjack’ being checked for PIT Tags. Credit: FWC
  • An image of staff and volunteers carrying the stretcher with the rescued manatee inside. Credit: FWC
    An image of staff and volunteers carrying the stretcher with the rescued manatee inside. Credit: FWC
  • A photo of staff and volunteers preparing to rescue the manatee from the water. Credit: FWC
    A photo of staff and volunteers preparing to rescue the manatee from the water. Credit: FWC

A PIT tag on Flapjack revealed he had previously rescued and rehabilitated in 2021 after he was found very thin in the Weeki Watchee River. He was rehabilitated at ZooTampa at Lowry Park and released around a year later in 2022.

Given his health history, Flapjack was transported to SeaWorld for further care and rehabilitation.

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