In honor of National Manatee Appreciation Day, March 31st, we reflect on the amazing team of rescuers From South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, SeaWorld, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and Palmetto Dunes' own golf course staff that worked together to help save a manatee in 2019.
Officials said the manatee weighed 856 pounds and 8.6 feet long! She was trapped inside the enclosed Palmetto Dunes lagoon on Friday, November 1, 2019 and suffering from minor skin abrasions and is slightly underweight. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. The rescued Palmetto Dunes Lagoon manatee was relocated to SeaWorld Orlando where she has been in rehab.
“In Palmetto Dunes, we strive to maintain the health of our waterways and all wildlife that inhabit it. When we found the manatee had navigated into our lagoon system and was not able to find its way back to the ocean, we immediately contacted DNR for assistance. We were fortunate that the rescue teams were able to quickly respond and rescue the manatee,” said Andrew Schumacher, CEO of Palmetto Dunes POA.
The majestic and gentle creatures can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas. They are a migratory species. Within the United States, they concentrate in Florida in the winter. In summer months, they are commonly seen in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Reporting a stranded or injured animal is the best way to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. If you see a stranded or injured manatee or any other marine mammal in South Carolina or around Palmetto Dunes Resort call the South Carolina Stranding Hotline at 800-922-5431. And as always, if you see a stranded marine mammal keep people and pets back a safe distance of 50 yards (150 feet).