Mote releases manatee mother and calf

Mote Marine Laboratory, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, released Cola and Fizz, a mom and dependent calf, back into the wild on June 11.

Fizz was discovered in distress with lesions on his back near Lido Key on May 1. Because he was only several weeks old and still dependent on his mom, both he and Cola were rescued.

The manatees were then sent to the David. A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for rehabilitation.

It is unknown how Fizz received his lesions.

“Manatees interact with barnacles and docks, and it could be from any other thing encountered in the wild,” FWC research assistant Denise Boyd said. “When the calf was found, his lesions weren’t healing as they should.”

When he was rescued, Fizz only weighed 61 pounds.

 “He was pretty weak,” Lowry Park Zoo animal keeper Molly Lippincott said. “We got him on Pedialyte to get him through the night. We put him back with his mom the next morning, and he finally started nursing and hasn’t stopped nursing since.”

Fizz now weighs 91 pounds and is ready to once again face the wild with Cola.

“He’s done great keeping up with his mom, and his wounds have healed great,” Lippincott said. “There’s no need to stay with us. Mom can show him the world now.”