Manatee Saved From Storm Drain Undergoes Rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando

A female manatee trapped in a storm drain in Jacksonville, Florida, was saved by fire crews and wildlife officials on Wednesday, November 30.

These videos and photos show the sea cow arriving at SeaWorld Orlando, a marine zoological and theme park, for rehabilitation.

The mammal was spotted near Davinci Avenue and Oretega Boulevard by a city worker paving the street, News4JAX reported. Fire crews spent hours to cut away pipes in order to safely remove the animal, which was finally freed over seven hours after she was discovered. The 9.5-foot creature had only suffered a few bruises during the extraction and was transported to SeaWorld in Orlando for a health checkup.

The rescue operation attracted a large crowd of onlookers, including several neighborhood children, who named the manatee “Venetia” and cheered for her removal.

According to a Facebook post from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, manatees are in the process of migrating and moving to the springs on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Credit: Facebook/SeaWorld; Twitter/SeaWorld via Storyful