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Cincinnati Zoo Returns Manatees to Florida for Final Stage of Rehabilitation

The Cincinnati Zoo also received three new manatees: Waffles, Nolia and Amethyst.

Oct 2, 2023 at 3:28 pm

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Photo: Provided by ZooTampa and the Cincinnati Zoo

ZooTampa employees help unload one of the manatees arriving from the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Cincinnati Zoo’s most recent manatee residents have been returned to Florida for the last step in their rehabilitation journey.

Over the weekend, eight manatees from zoos across Ohio were flown more than 1,000 miles back to their temporary homes in Florida in what the Cincinnati Zoo calls a successful culmination of more than two years of rescue work by four zoological and marine institutions. Those included the Cincinnati Zoo’s manatees, Piccolina, Soleil and Calliope, who were taken back to ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

The Cincinnati Zoo welcomed the three rescued manatees to its facility last November. Florida Fish and Wildlife rescued the manatees from different parts of southwest Florida in the spring and summer of 2021, and ZooTampa cared for them for about 18 months until they were brought to Cincinnati for the second step in rehabilitation.

“These transfers are extremely important as it allows us to make room to care for critically injured, ill and orphaned manatees,” Tiffany Burns, senior director of animal programs at ZooTampa, said in a press release. “We are grateful to our partners in Ohio for providing secondary rehabilitation. It’s an incredible team effort and we are excited about the manatees’ return to Florida waters early next year.”

This weekend, the manatees were placed in custom-built, state-of-the-art containers and flown from the DHL Express Global hub at CVG along with a Cincinnati Zoo staff veterinarian and Columbus Zoo animal care curator, who monitored the animals' conditions throughout the flight. The containers were secured on pallets attached to the floor of the plane for stability, and the animals rested on a comfortable, 8-inch-thick bed of foam, said the zoo. They were also covered in wool and space blankets to maintain a healthy body temperature and were misted with water to keep their bodies moist throughout the flight.

“Moving manatees is an extremely complex process that involves significant planning and logistics to ensure that each specific need is met throughout the journey,” Cain Moodie, senior vice president of network operations for DHL Express Americas, said. “We are thrilled to play a key role in this initiative to support endangered manatees in the wild, leveraging our team’s expertise to ensure each animal is transported as quickly and safely as possible.”

In Florida, the manatees will complete the final stage of rehabilitation before being returned to the waters they were rescued from. Piccolina, Soleil and Calliope will be released into Crystal River in February.

The Cincinnati Zoo also now has three new residents at Manatee Springs: Waffles, Nolia and Amethyst, all females, who arrived from Tampa for their second stage of rehabilitation.

“As a second-stage rehab facility, we give manatees individual care for several months, including providing plenty of food and veterinary care, until they’re big and strong enough to go home,” said Kim Scott, curator of mammals at the Cincinnati Zoo. “We may be far from Florida waters, but we love caring for these remarkable animals.”

Manatee Springs will be closed for the next few days, but visitors may be able to see Waffles, Nolia and Amethyst as early as Friday.

Since Manatee Springs opened in 2000, the Cincinnati Zoo has cared for nearly 30 manatees.

Cincinnati Zoo, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. More info: cincinnatizoo.org.

Slideshow

25 Touristy Things Every Cincinnati Resident Should Do at Least Once

Be in the Heart of It All at Fountain Square520 Vine St., DowntownIf you want to get to the heart of Cincinnati and its people, Fountain Square is the place to start. Home to the Tyler Davidson Fountain (a.k.a. The Genius of Water), Fountain Square sits right in the middle of Downtown Cincinnati at Fifth and Vine streets and plays host to numerous events and programs throughout the year, including the beloved UC Health Ice Rink in the winter, Salsa on the Square and Frisch’s Roller Rink. It’s within walking distance to some of Downtown’s best restaurants, like Via Vite, Jeff Ruby’s, Sotto and Mita’s, making it the perfect place to stop before or after dinner with friends. Fountain Square also has its own mini-bar, Fountain Bar, where you can buy a pop, beer, seltzer or mixed drink while you enjoy live music or just people-watching.

Take in the View at Smale Riverfront Park166 W. Mehring Way, The BanksYou can’t be a Cincinnati tourist if you don’t stop to look at one of our most iconic landmarks: the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. While it’s true the best view of the bridge is from Covington with Cincinnati’s skyline in the background, Smale Riverfront Park offers stunning views of the bridge, plus a whole lot more. Recently voted one of the top five riverwalks in the country in USA Today’s 10Best, Smale connects downtown from Paul Brown Stadium to Great American Ball Park with 45 acres of greenway. The park features public art, interactive fountains, playgrounds and giant swing sets that give a hell of a view of the Ohio River. Not only that, but you can walk or bike the paved trail from Smale through Sawyer Point, Yeatman’s Cove and down to Montgomery Inn and Friendship Park, or over the Purple People Bridge into Newport, all without getting near a car. And at Smale, you’re near all the fun The Banks has to offer, like the Andrew J Brady Music Center, Carol Ann’s Carousel, The Banks’ DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area) and quality Cincinnati establishments like Moerlein Lager House, E+O Kitchen and The Filson.

Eat and Shop Your Heart Out at Findlay Market1801 Race St., Over-the-RhineIt would almost be a crime to miss out on seeing Findlay Market. Ohio’s oldest-operating public market, Findlay Market is easily recognized by its candy-colored awnings and buildings and the bustling people around it throughout the day. But the market isn’t just colorful; it’s also a treasure trove of some of Cincinnati’s best food and shops. Satisfy your sweet tooth with gelato from uGOgelato or Dojo Gelato or a pastry from Moxy. For lunch, you can try Colombian arepas at The Arepa Place or a croque monsieur at French Crust. Eckerlin Meats has Cincinnati staple goetta you can cook up, and The Rhined is your go-to spot for all things charcuterie (and don’t forget to stop in Market Wines to find the perfect wine to pair with your board). You can also find artisan goods like all-natural soap from Maumee World Traders, candles and honey from Bee Haven or CBD products from Cincinnati Hemp Company.

Get Smart at the Cincinnati Museum Center1301 Western Ave., West EndUnion Terminal is home to several smaller museums within the Cincinnati Museum Center, including the Cincinnati History Museum and the Children’s Museum, both of which were named in the top 10 best museums of their kind by USA Today’s 10Best. Not only does the Cincinnati Museum Center host extraordinary traveling exhibits, like Dinosaurs of Antarctica or The Science Behind Pixar, its history museum allows visitors to step back in time to become immersed in Cincinnati’s history, from the earliest settlers to traditions only found here, like our chili. The museum has everything from costumed interpreters to a recreation of the bustling Public Landing as it was in the 1850s and a replica of the Queen of the West, a side-wheel steamboat. At the Children’s Museum, kids can dive into arts, culture and science. The museum has over 1,800 hours of programming each year and offers hands-on fun for kids of all ages with its eight themed play areas, including two designed for younger children. You can also catch a documentary in the museum’s state-of-the-art IMAX theater or hear the stories of courage and perseverance from survivors at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.

Meet Fiona and the Gang at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens3400 Vine St., AvondaleWhen you visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the first thing you’ll want to do is meet true Cincinnati royalty. Fiona, her baby brother Fritz, mom Bibi and step/dad Tucker will all be at Hippo Cove waiting to see you. There are also tons of other adorable animals to stop and see while you’re there, from elephants and manatees to giraffes and lions. If you’re lucky enough to go in April, you’ll see an explosion of color from the tulips and daffodils of Zoo Blooms. And toward the end of the year, the zoo comes alive with millions of bright, twinkly lights for the Festival of Lights.

Take in a Performance at Music Hall1241 Elm St., Over-the-RhineCincinnati is a hub for great art in every medium, and that’s never more apparent than when you attend a show at Music Hall, which is arguably a work of art in and of itself. Want to catch a live symphony of a Star Wars soundtrack or see the Cincinnati Ballet in action? Head to this historic landmark. Friends of Music Hall, its nonprofit arm, also offers tours of the building so you can dive deeper into its history and see what’s happening behind the scenes (and maybe even meet a ghost). And right across the street is the beautifully renovated Washington Park, which is a great place to unwind, see free live music or enjoy a drink at its patio bar, The Porch.

Bask in the Neon Glow of the American Sign Museum1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp WashingtonThis one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to the art and history of commercial signs and sign-making holds the stories of a not-often-seen side of American history. You can wander through the American Sign Museum’s collection and ever-present neon glow to learn more about these stories, as well as see what goes into preserving or restoring old signs.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...