Opening in early 2026, Manatee Rescue will offer unforgettable moments of eye-level viewing of Florida’s aquatic wildlife – manatees, fish, and graceful jellies floating weightlessly with the current, and an all-new riverbank oasis for playful otters.

Discover the gentle Florida manatee at the Columbus Zoo. Learn about their aquatic habitat, diet, and the conservation efforts to protect these amazing mammals!

Manatees are the roly-poly “teddy bears” of the sea. They are also known as sea cows, but despite this nickname, they are more closely related to elephants. These large, gray aquatic herbivores have rotund bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail, …

2024年1月20日 · Manatees are gentle, peaceful animals that have no natural predators and are mostly herbivorous. Although they’re fully aquatic, their closest relatives are elephants! There are precious few zoos and aquariums where you can see a manatee in person.

Discover all aspects of long-term manatee rehabilitation while exploring the rich diversity of species that share their habitat. Enjoy an exclusive glimpse into the dedicated care provided to pelicans, fish, rays, our cherished resident sea turtle, and, of course, the manatees themselves!

Florida manatees inhabit the most northern limit of sirenian habitats. There are four recognized subpopulations of the Florida manatee, termed the Northwest, Southwest, Atlantic Coast, and St. John's River populations.

CINCINNATI (Oct. 2, 2023) – Eight manatees were flown more than 1,000 miles back to their temporary Florida homes over the weekend, the successful culmination of more than two years of rescue work by four zoological/marine institutions to save the beloved sea cows.

Learn and look out for telltale signs of manatees in the area, such as a swirl or flat spot on the water created by the motion of the manatee’s tail, or a break in the water created by a manatee’s snout, back, tail, or flipper. Keep away from posted manatee sanctuaries and always remain a safe distance away if you encounter a manatee.

Also called the sea cow, the manatee is the only herbivorous mammal specially designed to live its entire life in the water. The Florida manatee is at home in saltwater, as well as fresh water, but needs access to fresh water frequently.

Most of the orphaned Manatees taken in by the Columbus Zoo and its partners are released back into the wild once they reach adulthood and are deemed able to survive on their own. Manatees give birth to live young and nurse their babies just like humans and other mammals. Adults typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds.