NORTH PORT — Hannatee the manatee is doing OK.
Officials at SeaWorld Orlando’s Manatee Critical Care Center are “cautiously optimistic” about the recovery of a manatee named “Hannahtee,” that was rescued in North Port on Dec. 6.
The rescue effort was carried out by dozens of people including wildlife officers and city utilities employees in a waterway off Biscayne Boulevard and Sydney Avenue.
The mission to save her went on for hours.
Bill Lewis, of North Port, made the call to have her rescued.
He named the sea cow after his daughter Hannah, who recently died.
Eventually, the female manatee was successfully pulled out of the canal in a massive net, and placed into a box truck, then transported north for medical attention.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officials confirmed Hannahtee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando.
She was pulled out of the waterway due temperature concerns, according to FWC officials, who said the water was in the low 60s. Anything under 68 is potentially dangerous for manatees.