Sick manatee pulled from Charlotte Harbor

Nov 12, 2014 1 min read

Wildlife officials check on the manatee that was found sick off of Bokeelia recently, The manatee is expected to recover, according to officials at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa where it is being treated. Photo by Ken Pleat

Thursday morning a young manatee was removed from Charlotte Harbor. It is believed the male manatee is suffering the effects of red tide.

“They did name him ‘Bokeelia Boy’ as it was a male,” Bokeelia resident Ken Pleat said. “This is the first manatee that we know of that has suffered the effects of red tide.”

The manatee was taken to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. The facility is widely known for caring for critically injured, sick and orphaned manatees.

This endangered species has been at the heart of the zoo’s commitment to conservation of Florida wildlife for more than 20 years.

The manatee is expected to make a full recovery, zoo officials reported.

“I was told we can watch the manatee’s progress on the Internet,” Pleat said. “I’m trying to find out where we can follow it on the web. They say we can watch it right up to when they release it again.”