POWELL, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Three orphaned manatees who called the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium home have been released back into Florida waters.
The Columbus Zoo’s manatees — Squirrel, Lizzie and MaryKate — were three of five released on Wednesday to Blue Spring State Park in Florida after a years’ long journey of rehabilitation. The manatees had been rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2020 and 2021 before the Columbus Zoo provided treatment for several years to fully rehabilitate the orphaned calves.
Squirrel was rescued in May of 2020 in Tavernier, Florida, while Lizzie was found in July of 2020 in Palm Coast and MaryKate was discovered swimming alone in January of 2021 in Blue Spring State Park.
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The Columbus Zoo is one of only three facilities, along with the Georgia Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, outside of Florida that cares for manatees. The zoo is a second stage rehabilitation facility that provides a temporary home for manatees until they are ready for release back to the wild.