ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld animal care specialists are providing 24-hour care for a weeks-old baby manatee who was orphaned by her mother, park officials said.
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The baby manatee was transported to SeaWorld by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The female calf arrived at the park's rehabilitation center on July 24 after being rescued from the waters of Daytona Beach.
Every three hours, the three-and-a-half foot, 41-pound orphan is bottle fed with nutrient-rich baby formula that promotes weight gain. Her weight is taken every other day as animal care specialists closely monitor her progress.
She remains in guarded condition and park veterinarians hope to eventually return her back into the wild.
SeaWorld says they are the global leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees. The park's Animal Rescue Team is on call 365 days a year and 24 hours a day.
WFTV
