Manatee found wedged in storm drain recovering at SeaWorld Orlando

A 950-pound manatee that found itself stuck in a Jacksonville storm drain, was recovering at SeaWorld Orlando Thursday, officials said.

The entrapped manatee was spotted by a construction worker Wednesday afternoon and it took crews hours to rescue her from the tight space.

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As concerned onlookers watched, crews dug down and had to remove a section of pipe to lift the nearly 10-foot-long animal out of the storm drain.

The manatee was then loaded onto a truck and driven to Orlando, where she was being monitored by experts at SeaWorld.

Fortunately, the animal was not seriously injured and should make a complete recovery, SeaWorld Rescue spokeswoman Stacy DiRocco said.

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“Manatees are amazingly tough animals,” she said.

SeaWorld employees gave the manatee fluids and basic supportive care, and so far are “happy with how she looks,” DiRocco said.

Cox Media Group