BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Zoo is set to expand its efforts in rescuing and rehabilitating manatees with the construction of the first manatee rehabilitation center in Brevard County.
The new rehabilitation center, made possible by a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), will provide immediate care to manatees in Brevard County and expand “bed space” at other facilities in the state.
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Construction of the new rehabilitation center is set to begin soon, with three initial tanks being built behind the scenes on the zoo’s property.
These tanks will provide care for stable, non-critical manatee patients who require additional monitoring, weight gain, or better weather conditions for release.
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The goal for all manatee patients at the center will be eventual release back into their native range.
The new manatee rehabilitation center is an important step in helping the local manatee population, which has been hit hard by environmental issues affecting seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon.
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Brevard County has experienced a historic wave of manatee deaths in recent years, with many of them dying of starvation due to the loss of seagrass habitat.
While there are plans to create a rehabilitation center at the zoo’s future Aquarium and Conservation Center, the zoo will begin its efforts by building three initial tanks. The zoo has also raised funds to establish and equip an expanded group of volunteers to help with manatee rescues, releases, and necropsies.
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