Greener Pastures for These ‘Sea Cows’

It may be Southern California’s perfect poster mammal, even though it’s an import. The Florida manatee, that endangered denizen of the Sunshine State, demonstrates so many SoCal behaviors that if you put a pair of Jams on it, out-of-staters might mistake it for a native.

Visitors to SeaWorld San Diego can peek at the endearing “sea cow” at the park’s new educational Manatee Rescue, the only exhibit of the Florida manatee outside its home state. The park’s 215,000-gallon freshwater aquarium houses five adult males, all graduates of SeaWorld Orlando’s manatee rescue and rehabilitation program.

So, what does this ponderous subspecies of the West Indian manatee have in common with the stereotypical Southern Californian?

Consider this: The Florida manatee is a strict vegetarian, spending up to a third of its day in the wild trolling for underwater and floating vegetation. The five in San Diego--averaging about half a ton each--put away 100 pounds of greens (romaine lettuce is a favorite, no dressing), delivered three times daily, with treats of grapes, apples, carrots and sweet potatoes.

What’s more, like many sun-seekers, the manatee prefers a temperate clime. It is also curious and promiscuous (breeding between consenting manatees goes on pretty much year-round). Additionally, according to SeaWorld’s Web site--https://www.seaworld.org--Florida manatees are gnarly bodysurfers, having been observed riding the current produced by partially opened flood dams.

Dan O’Dell, the SeaWorld Orlando biologist who leads the manatee rescue program, said there are only 2,500 Florida manatees in the wild. Although the manatees have few natural predators, humans pose a great threat; powerboats are one of the leading causes of manatee injury and death. One of the San Diego five is missing large portions of his rear paddle from a run-in with the prop of a powerboat.

O’Dell said the survival rate of the manatees his staff has handled is 50%, an increase from the early years. Four other animals in San Diego were either found orphaned and hand-raised or born to pregnant mothers that couldn’t be saved.

“There’s a lot we don’t understand,” O’Dell said. “‘There’s a lot of learning that goes on between a calf and its mother, like the seasonal migratory patterns. . . . Captive-born calves and hand-raised orphans have never had that experience.

“There is research being done in south Florida, tracking some of the released animals, that’s been fairly successful. But we want to play this conservatively, keep them safe, not just put them back out there and have them hit by boats.”

The Manatee Rescue exhibit includes a video of the SeaWorld rescue and rehabilitation team, as well as a life-size manatee model and other hands-on displays.

About 70 animals handled by the program have been released; the remainder, which include some too badly injured to fend for themselves, are housed in facilities such as SeaWorld Orlando, the Miami Seaquarium and a state wildlife park.

And what about the treatment the manatees receive in San Diego? It’s full-service, said senior animal care specialist Mike Bressler, who handles the manatees’ needs with associate Kristi Oldham. Bressler said they spend six hours of their shift in the aquarium’s 65- to 75-degree water, securing food underwater and near the surface to simulate natural feeding patterns. They also make notes to the veterinarian, who visits the exhibit daily.

On opening day, the animals sometimes seemed to nuzzle the wet-suited keepers as they distributed treats. But Bressler says they are not trying to domesticate them. So, although SeaWorld does have the Shamu shows and others using animals from its collection, don’t expect any staged displays of amusing manatee antics.

“We’re making every effort to take care of them as best we can in an environment that is as natural as possible.” he said. “Our rehab programs are set that way for sea lions, harbor seals, everything. The goal is to get ‘em healthy and get ‘em back” to the wild.

BE THERE

Manatee Rescue is a permanent exhibit at SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego. Park hours 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is $34.95; $26.95 for children 11 and under; children under 3 are free. (619) 222-6363.