410-Pound Manatee Rescued From Florida Storm Drain
This photo provided by Brevard County Fire Rescue shows members of Brevard County Fire Rescue help rescue a manatee that was stuck in a storm drain on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Melbourne Beach, Fla. (Brevard County Fire Rescue via AP)
A manatee that became trapped in a Florida storm drain while searching for warmer water is recovering at SeaWorld Orlando after a large, coordinated rescue effort, according to the Associated Press.
On Tuesday, multiple fire rescue teams joined officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Florida, and even a local towing company, Jack’s Wrecker Service, to free the 410-pound animal from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach. The response began after a city worker conducting a survey spotted the manatee inside what officials call a “baffle box,” part of the drainage system.
“We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach,” Vice Mayor Terry Cronin told WESH-TV in Orlando. “Our people were doing a survey, and one of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a baffle box.”
The male manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando, where he is being treated in one of the park’s medical pools, said spokesperson Stephanie Bechara.
“He’s breathing on his own, moving independently, and showing interest in food. Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care,” Bechara said. She added that the goal is to stabilize and rehabilitate rescued manatees so they can eventually be returned to the wild.
Manatees, a protected species, are still recovering from a severe starvation crisis. In 2021, more than 1,100 manatee deaths were recorded, most linked to starvation. Since then, mortality numbers have declined significantly. State wildlife officials reported 555 deaths in 2023 and 565 in 2024. SeaWorld Orlando rescued 56 manatees last year and has already taken in seven so far this year.
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