Manatee Rescued By Dolphin Research Center
[KEY LARGO, FL] On June 28, 2025, Dolphin Research Center (DRC), the only licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys, recently led a complex, multi-day rescue of an injured manatee in close coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and with vital assistance from Dolphins Plus.
The manatee, known as Cooley, was found suffering from a severe entanglement caused by fishing line wrapped tightly around her pectoral flipper. The rescue took multiple days and required many hours of careful effort to safely free her. Once disentangled, Cooley was treated on-site by DRC’s full-time, on-staff veterinarian, Dr. Scott Gearhart. After a thorough evaluation and treatment at the rescue location, Cooley was released immediately back into her natural habitat.
Cooley’s rescue highlights a troubling, ongoing issue — she has been rescued multiple times in her life due to similar entanglement injuries. Her mother, Dually, is also well known to the DRC team, having been rescued over a dozen times over the years for the same hazard.
“This isn’t just a one-time issue — it’s an ongoing and serious threat to manatees in our waters,” said Allie Proskovec, Public Relations Director, Dolphin Research Center. “When the same animals are needing rescue again and again, it shows how urgent it is for all of us to take better care of our environment.”
As the only licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys, Dolphin Research Center plays a critical role in responding to these emergencies and providing expert care for injured wildlife.
Fishing line entanglements remain one of the most common and preventable dangers faced by manatees. DRC urges anglers and the public to properly dispose of fishing line using designated recycling bins and to report injured wildlife immediately to the FWC.
Dolphin Research Center’s role as the sole licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys makes their work essential for the region’s wildlife health and safety. The organization encourages anyone who spots a manatee that may be injured, entangled, or in distress to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
The Dolphin Research Center remains committed to protecting marine mammals through rescue, rehabilitation, education, and research.
For more information or to support DRC’s conservation efforts, visit www.dolphins.org, or social media: Facebook and Instagram.
