NORTH CAROLINA — A stranded manatee in North Carolina was recently rescued just in time for treatment, thanks to the teamwork of multiple organizations.

What You Need To Know

  • SeaWorld Orlando, along with other organizations, helped rescue a distressed manatee in North Carolina Monday

  • The female manatee, weighing 855 pounds and measuring almost 9 feet, was first reported in late October to the North Carolina stranding network, according to SeaWorld

  • Thanks to the quick action of the rescue teams, the manatee will get the urgent care it needs to recover 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said they, SeaWorld Orlando and other North Carolina organizations successfully rescued a female 855-pound manatee, measuring 9 feet long Monday, according to officials.

They added the mammal had been reported to the stranding network in Oct. 2024 after it was seen on its side in shallow waters.


Officials said the cold waters, compounded by a recent boat injury the manatee suffered, prompted them to take action.

“Manatees are particularly vulnerable to cold stress when water temperatures drop below 68°F. Prolonged exposure to cold can lead to life-threatening health issues,” officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday. “The timely intervention of the rescue teams ensures the manatee will receive the critical care needed for recovery.”

Volunteers maneuvered a harness under the manatee in a narrow North Carolina river before getting on either side to lift it into a truck for transport.

The manatee took a trip to SeaWorld Orlando where it will undergo rehabilitation.