Big news is making waves in Jacksonville. A 330,000-gallon manatee critical care center opens March 6 at Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and you will be able to see these gentle giants up close. This habitat is all about rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and release, with conservation front and center.
Plus, a revamped entrance gives you direct views into the manatee world the moment you walk in.
1. The Manatee Critical Care Habitat
Meet the stars of the season inside a 330,000-gallon sanctuary built to heal and inspire. You will watch manatees glide in crystal-clear water while caregivers monitor every breath, heartbeat, and bite of romaine. This is not a show, it is a mission, turning injuries into second chances and teaching you how everyday choices protect Florida waters.
From underwater viewing, you will see whiskered faces drift past seagrass-like plantings. Staff will share how boats, cold stress, and red tide affect manatees, and what rescue looks like in real time. The goal is always release, and that hope hangs in the air as strongly as the mist on the glass.
2. Rescue, Rehab, and Release Journey
You will trace a manatee’s journey from emergency rescue to recovery, then release back into Florida’s rivers. The center’s team partners with statewide responders, transporting animals for diagnostics, tube feedings, and wound care. Gentle handling and quiet spaces help stressed patients regain strength, while nutrition plans rebuild energy for the swim home…