Orphaned manatees released at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Krystal the manatee awaits her release.

Two manatees rehabilitated at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park were released earlier this month at Three Sisters Spring in the Crystal River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service picked up the manatees, named CC Baby and Krystal, from the park and transported them to Three Sister Springs for release.

“We are always pleased to see manatees released back into the wild after their care at Homosassa Springs,” said Park Manager Art Yerian. “The park’s participation in manatee rehabilitation is an important component of manatee education and conservation in Florida.”

CC Baby was an orphaned baby manatee rescued from the Caloosahatchee River because of cold stress on Sept. 16, 2007. At the time of rescue, she weighed 73 pounds. She was brought to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa for rehabilitation, and then spent time in the Cincinnati Zoo. CC Baby arrived at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on Nov. 2, 2010, and has grown to 635 pounds.

Krystal was rescued on Dec. 8, 2009, from Three Sisters Springs in Citrus County, as an orphaned calf with cold stress. She weighed 198 pounds at the time and was taken to the Miami Seaquarium. She arrived at Homosassa Springs State Park on March 11, 2010, weighing about 300 pounds and has grown to 670 pounds.

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park has participated in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release program for more than 30 years and during that time has rehabilitated and released more than 20 manatees back into the wild.