A young manatee rescued in St. Petersburg, Florida, recently succumbed to its injuries despite intensive treatment at ZooTampa. The 195-pound juvenile manatee was suffering from a recent watercraft collision, shark bites, and a severe chest infection.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Challenges

According to ZooTampa Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer Dr. Meredith Persky, the manatee’s story highlights the difficulties of wildlife rehabilitation and the growing threats facing the Florida manatee, a recognized subspecies of the West Indian manatee. Boat strikes remain one of Florida’s leading human-caused threats to manatees.

Preliminary data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows 381 documented manatee deaths statewide in 2026, with 129 of those deaths attributed to calf mortality and 82 deaths caused by human activity, including 70 confirmed watercraft collisions.

Protecting Manatees

Dr. Persky emphasized the importance of protecting manatees, stating that it is a shared responsibility. She encouraged boaters to obey posted manatee speed zones, remain vigilant in shallow water, and report injured, distressed, or orphaned manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.