Mote is proud to announce the arrival of its first two manatee rehabilitation patients, Cabbage and Sleet, marking a major milestone in manatee conservation. This transfer signifies the launch of Mote’s role as a secondary care holding facility for manatee rehabilitation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife. As a secondary care holding facility, Mote will provide rehabilitative care for non-critical manatee patients to improve capacity at Florida’s primary critical care centers. This expansion of care capacity is vital, as Florida manatees continue to face threats from habitat loss, boat strikes, red tide, cold stress, and entanglement or ingestion of marine debris. Cabbage and Sleet were transferred to Mote on Monday, April 28, 2025 from the The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, and ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and represents a significant increase in Mote’s partnership role with the USFWS, FWC and @Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership and Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) in the recovery of this iconic species. The arrival of Cabbage and Sleet is a symbol of progress in manatee conservation and underscores the power of collaboration among Florida’s leading marine animal care institutions that include FWC, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium who along with USFWS are all members of the MRP cooperative group of nonprofit, private, state, and federal entities working together to rescue, rehabilitate, release, and monitor manatees while also advancing research and public education. Learn more about our rehabilitation efforts by visiting the link below. https://mote.org/news/mote-marine-laboratory-receives-federal-designation-as-a-secondary-care-rehabilitation-facility-for-rescued-manatees-and-welcomes-first-patients/ (fb)

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