We celebrate manatees every day here at the Cincinnati Zoo, but today is an extra special day: Manatee Appreciation Day!
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of a few U.S. Zoos outside of Florida that participate in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP). The goal of the program is to rescue and treat ill, injured and orphaned manatees and then release them back into the wild.
We are a second stage rehabilitation center for rescued manatees who need to get big and strong enough to be released back to their native Florida waters! Since 1999, the Cincinnati Zoo has cared for 29 manatees with 24 of them being released back to the wild! Most recently, in February of 2024, orphaned manatees Calliope, Piccolina & Soleil were released at Crystal River, Florida.
Currently, Nolia, Amethyst and Waffles are rehabilitating at the Cincinnati Zoo until they can head back down to Flordia!
