2 New Manatees Welcomed At The Bishop Ahead Of Habitat Reopening

BRADENTON, FL — The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature welcomed two new manatees to the Stage 2 Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat June 8. The manatees, Janus and Iclyn, are the first animals to be cared for in the newly renovated habitat, which reopens to the public Wednesday, the museum said in a news release.

Work began on the renovations in March. The updates to the habitat are designed to provide rehabilitating manatees a more naturally stimulating environment with variable depth and substrate that will help them transition even more successfully from rehabilitation back to the wild, the Bishop said.

The renovations also included painting, new carpeting and lighting, along with a new mural for the exhibition.

The work was planned for more than a year and included input from veterinarians and animal care experts at The Bishop, as well as other partner facilities and organizations.

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“We’re really pleased that the work is completed and that we can once again care for manatees,” Virginia Edmonds, director of Animal Care at The Bishop, said. “The two manatees that arrived today are both ‘local’ female manatees rescued in Sarasota. It’s nice to be able to help our manatee neighbors!”

The Bishop’s Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat is a Stage 2 rehabilitation facility. Such facilities play a vital role in maintaining space for critically ill manatee patients in hospitals and allow manatees the time they need to fully recuperate, gain exposure to natural foods and feeding strategies, and gain weight so that they are ready for their return to the wild, the museum said.

The Bishop has cared for 44 rehabilitating manatees, including the two newest arrivals, Janus and Iclyn.

Janus is a subadult female manatee that was rescued in January from Philippi Creek in Sarasota. Janus was unable to exit the canal and was suffering from cold stress when she was rescued. She was 6 feet long and weighed 295 pounds when she was rescued. Today, she’s 6.7 feet and weighs 420 pounds, the Bishop said.

Iclyn is another subadult female manatee. She was rescued in January from Whitaker Bayou in Sarasota and suffered from cold stress. Iclyn was 6.5 feet long and weighed 360 pounds at rescue. Today, she’s 7.3 feet long and weighs 525 pounds.

The Bishop has been rehabilitating manatees since 1998 and was a founding member of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) in 2001. The MRP is a cooperative of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities that rescue, rehabilitate and return manatees to the wild.

Florida manatees are at risk from both natural and human causes of injury and mortality, the museum said. Exposure to red tide and cold stress are natural problems that can affect manatees. Human-related threats include boat strikes, crushing by floodgates or locks, entanglement in monofilament and crab trap line, or ingestion of fishing gear and plastic bags.

If you see an injured manatee, you can help by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hotline at 888-404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on your cell phone.