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POWELL, OH – Six orphaned manatees were flown more than 1,000 miles to their temporary homes in Florida, marking an important milestone in a complex, multi-institution conservation effort more than two years in the making.

In a carefully coordinated transport operation, the manatees were secured in custom-built travel containers and driven to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, where they were loaded onto a specially scheduled DHL cargo flight to Florida on November 9, 2025. They will now complete the final stages of their rehabilitation before ultimately returning to the native Florida waters where they were first rescued. In this same collaborative effort, six additional manatees in need of continued care traveled from Florida to Ohio on November 12, 2025 to receive secondary rehabilitation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT (Walt Disney World Resort), and SeaWorld Orlando have worked together for several years to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and return of manatees through the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP).

“Manatee transfers demonstrate the dedication of the various organizations that comprise the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and their unwavering commitment to saving this incredible Florida species,” said Tiffany Burns, Senior Director of animal programs at ZooTampa and president of the MRP. “We are grateful to our partners in Ohio for providing essential secondary rehabilitation. It truly takes a village to protect this threatened species. I am proud of the commitment from everyone involved in ensuring these animals can return to their native waters.”

The six manatees who had recently been receiving care at the Columbus Zoo included three orphaned individuals that had been rehabilitating at the Zoo since October 2024—Clawford (female), Sabal (female), and Cobble (male). Clawford was transferred to SeaWorld Orlando, Sabal was transferred to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Cobble was transferred to The Seas With Nemo & Friends.

Three additional manatees—females Vora, Orchid, and Lilypad—had recently been welcomed to the Columbus Zoo from the Cincinnati Zoo to receive care while Cincinnati’s manatee habitat was being renovated. As part of this same transport mission, they also returned to Florida. Vora and Orchid were transferred to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Lilypad was transferred to SeaWorld Orlando.

All six manatees arrived safely at their respective partner facilities in Florida and are settling in well.

“Seeing manatees go through each stage of rehabilitation, often against incredible odds, is truly inspiring,” said Brant Gabriel, Curator of Rescue at SeaWorld Orlando. “It’s a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when experts work together for the wellbeing of a species.”

The manatees will ultimately be released in the same regions of Florida where they were originally rescued, ensuring they return to waters that are familiar and appropriate for them.

Throughout the operation, the Columbus Zoo’s Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams accompanied the manatees to the DHL Express Global Hub in Cincinnati, where the cargo aircraft departed. A Cincinnati Zoo animal care team member and veterinarian then accompanied the manatees during the flight to Florida and remained with them until they were safely transferred to their partner rehabilitation facilities—before returning on the same aircraft with the six manatees traveling back to Ohio.

“Seeing the manatees we’ve cared for return to their natural waters in Florida is the best outcome and the goal we’ve been working toward all year,” said Lindsay Garrett, head keeper of the North America department at the Cincinnati Zoo. “Each release is the result of months of dedication and teamwork. As we prepare for the next group of rescues, we’re ready to provide them with the same commitment and care.”

DHL Express transported the manatees in custom-built, state-of-the art containers, accompanied by a Cincinnati Zoo team member and veterinarian, who monitored the manatees’ condition throughout the flight. The containers were secured on palettes attached to the floor of the plane for stability. The manatees rested on a comfortable, 8-inch-thick bed of foam. They were covered in wool and space blankets to maintain a healthy body temperature and constantly monitored during the flight by care specialists using laser thermometers. To keep their bodies moist, the animals were misted with water under their blankets throughout the flight.

“Transporting these manatees safely back to Florida is more than a logistics mission—it’s an act of care for an endangered species. Every detail is planned with their safety and comfort in mind. We’re proud to support this conservation effort and help these remarkable animals return to their home waters,” said Laurice Bancroft, SVP Network Operations, DHL Express Americas.

Yet, even as these manatees prepare to return to their native waters, the conservation work to save manatees remains ongoing and crucial. In addition to the six manatees transported to Florida, six new young manatees in need of continued rehabilitation also arrived safely from Florida to Ohio on the return flight.

Three of these manatees—Redrock, Rosalyn, and Noface—have now arrived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from SeaWorld Orlando. Noface’s name reflects the severe cold stress she survived during her rescue, which initially caused skin loss around her face. That has since resolved—a testament to her resilience.

Upon their arrival at the Zoo’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, the trio joined long-term resident and fan favorite, Stubby. Due to Stubby's extensive injuries from a boat strike, she is considered to be a conditionally non-releasable animal. Her condition is evaluated every five years to determine if she is ready or not to return to Florida, but it is unlikely that she will move out of this category. Stubby has often voluntarily assumed the role of a surrogate mother looking after the other manatees, and Redrock, Rosalyn, and Noface have already begun to bond with her as she shows the new arrivals around the habitat.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden also welcomed three new manatees as part of this return transport: males. Slushie, Hundo from ZooTampa, and Alfred from SeaWorld Orlando.

“We are proud to work alongside SeaWorld Orlando, ZooTampa, the Cincinnati Zoo, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, DHL, and all of our MRP partners to provide orphaned and injured manatees a second chance,” said Becky Ellsworth, curator of the Columbus Zoo’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. “Each partner plays a vital role, from caring for individual animals, sharing knowledge, and addressing the challenges manatees face in Florida’s waterways. Together, we’re making a real difference for this species and inspiring guests to take action for manatees and the health of our oceans. We look forward to continuing to grow these partnerships and help ensure a future where manatees thrive.”

The manatees were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities who work together to monitor the health and survival of manatees.

As part of the MRP, ZooTampa and SeaWorld Orlando provide critical care, including urgent veterinary treatment, to injured manatees in Florida. The Columbus and Cincinnati zoos are two of only several facilities outside of Florida to care for manatees and serve as second-stage rehabilitation facilities to provide temporary homes, food, and veterinary care for manatees until they are ready to return back to Florida waters.

Including these manatees who recently left Ohio, the Columbus Zoo has returned 42 manatees to Florida, and the Cincinnati Zoo has cared for 35 and released 28 manatees since 1999. To date, ZooTampa has treated more than 600 manatees since 1991, and SeaWorld Orlando has rescued more than 1,000 manatees since launching its rescue program in 1976.

Florida manatees are at risk from natural and human-caused threats, including exposure to the loss of sea grass, red tide, cold stress, disease, boat strikes, crushing by flood gates or locks and entanglement or ingesting of fishing gear.

Manatees Transferred Back to Florida to Complete Final Stages of Rehabilitation

Manatees Sent Back to Ohio to Continue Rehabilitation