MARATHON, FL — On Wednesday, September 1st, Dolphin Research Center’s (DRC) Manatee Rescue Team successfully rescued Coco, an approx. 900-1000 pound male manatee with monofilament fishing line deeply embedded in his pectoral flippers. The line had been present for some time and had penetrated the soft tissue to the bone, according to DRC veterinarian Dr. Scott Gearhart.
Coco was spotted by residents at the Galway Bay community, 15th Street Oceanside in Marathon. “Both flippers were grossly enlarged due to compromise of blood supply, but they appeared to be still viable,” said Dr. Gearhart.
After the team captured Coco in the net, they placed him in a stretcher on foam on the boat ramp. Dr. Gearhart used forceps and scissors to remove the monofilament. He then cleaned the wounds with Betadine and flushed them with saline. Once the treatment was completed, the team carried Coco back down the ramp and returned him to the water. He swam off without incident.
The rescue mission faced several challenges. In addition to Coco, as many as five other manatees, including a mother and calf, were present in the waterway. The team stretched a net across the width of the canal and personnel in kayaks encouraged Coco towards it. Two other manatees were also encircled in the net at the time. “We were fortunate that we were able to catch him while safely releasing the two other manatees prior to bringing Coco up on land.”
This was not the first time that this individual manatee has needed assistance from the DRC team. He was previously rescued for entanglement in June 2018. Unfortunately, once a manatee has suffered and developed scarring from entanglements, it can experience similar problems again. It is imperative that people carefully collect and properly dispose of fishing line and other marine debris so that it does not enter the water. If the public sees a sick, injured, entangled, or orphaned manatee, they should call the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922 to report the animal.
Founded in 1984, Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit organization, licensed as the manatee rescue team for the Florida Keys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Located at 58901 (mile marker 59) Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, Florida, the center is home to dolphins and sea lions and is open daily for the public to see narrated behavior sessions and educational presentations, and to participate in interactive programs. The center, including the manatee rescue activities, is funded by admission and program fees as well as by private donors and members. For more information, visit www.dolphins.org.
