Four rescued manatees have been brought back to Florida from Ohio as part of a rehabilitation programme aimed at eventually returning them to the wild.
Redrock, Rosalyn and Erie have arrived at the Brevard Zoo, while Hundo has been transferred to Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. All four had been receiving care at zoos in Ohio before being moved south for the next stage of their treatment.
Four manatees continue rehabilitation in Florida
Redrock was rescued as an orphaned calf from the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville on May 10, 2024. Rosalyn was found alone in the Banana River on December 2 that year.
Erie was rescued from the DeSoto Canal in Cocoa Beach on January 9, 2025, after suffering from cold stress. Hundo was taken from the Crystal River in Citrus County on March 11, 2025.
The animals will continue to be monitored and treated in Florida before conservation teams assess whether they are ready to be released into Florida’s waterways.
The transfers were organised through the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership, a network involving the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, zoos and specialist wildlife-care facilities.
How the manatees were moved across the US
Moving the animals between Ohio and Florida required detailed planning, with each manatee placed in a specially designed container and transported by air before continuing by specialist lorry.
The containers were fitted with foam bedding around eight inches thick to reduce movement during the journey. Care teams used wool and space blankets to help regulate the manatees’ body temperatures, while laser thermometers were used to monitor them.
Staff also regularly misted the animals with water beneath the blankets to keep their skin moist throughout the journey.
The operation involved the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, SeaWorld Orlando, the East Coast Zoological Foundation at Brevard Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens and DHL Express.
Since 1999, more than 40 manatees have been transferred to Florida from the Columbus Zoo’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Cincinnati Zoo has cared for 38 manatees and released 31, according to information issued by the rehabilitation partnership.
Six Florida manatees sent to Ohio
The latest move also involved a reverse transfer, with six rescued manatees leaving SeaWorld Orlando for Ohio on October 14, 2026.
Three males and three females were divided between the two Ohio facilities. Celine, Poplin and Gingham were taken to Columbus Zoo, while Tuglet, Smidge and Zimomo went to Cincinnati Zoo.
The animals will continue their rehabilitation in Ohio before being returned to Florida when they are considered ready for the next stage of their recovery.
Officials have not said how long the four manatees now in Florida, or the six being cared for in Ohio, will remain at their respective facilities before a decision is made on possible release.
