Zoo and FWC Partnering to Expand Manatee Care

By Lauri deGaris

Tucked away behind the scenes of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is the Northeast Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) Marine Mammal Response Field Laboratory. FWC is part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, which is based in St. Petersburg. Its mission is to do effective research, gain technical knowledge, and provide timely information and guidance to protect and preserve Florida’s fish and wildlife.

FWC Northeast Field Lab (NEFL) moved to the Jacksonville Zoo in 2008. Together, they have been collaborating with the Jacksonville Zoo to rehabilitate manatees and other marine mammals. Presently, the FWC, the Jacksonville Zoo, partners and volunteers work to provide care for all of Northeast Florida’s injured manatees and marine mammals.

The Jacksonville Zoo along with its partners, including FWC, are expanding their efforts to provide rehabilitation for marine mammals in North Florida. According to their website, on October 20, 2023, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens held a ceremonial groundbreaking to commemorate the construction of its new Manatee River habitat. This project is generously supported by a lead gift from J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver. And, a 25,000 square-foot new zoo entrance is being sponsored by VyStar SkyScape. The two transformational projects are the second phase of the Zoo’s REZOOVENATION campaign, aimed at significantly enhancing the zoo’s facilities.

“The new Manatee River will be an innovative facility for manatees receiving treatment at the zoo. Being one of the few federally permitted acute care facilities for manatees in Florida, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens can currently treat up to six injured, sick or orphaned manatees. As an expansion of the existing Manatee Critical Care Center (MCCC), the Manatee River habitat will have four new treatment pools and three habitats, effectively tripling the zoo’s rehabilitation efforts with 330,000 gallons of space. The mixed species Manatee River habitat will celebrate the diverse natural environment of North Florida, mirroring the state’s waterways and incorporating native fish, reptiles and birds. The state-of-the-art first-impression habitat will showcase Florida’s beloved manatees prominently, welcoming visitors as they enter through the VyStar SkyScape.“

“We are excited to officially break ground on this incredible new facility, which will position our zoo and gardens as an industry leader in manatee rehabilitation,” said President and CEO Jeff Ettling, Ph.D. “It is crucial to deliver prompt and expert treatment to safeguard wild populations of Florida manatees, and we are grateful for the generous support of J. Wayne and Delores Weaver.”

The state of Florida is also investing in the FWC Northeast Field Lab to facilitate rescue and recovery of marine mammals. The FWC Northeast field lab has received several 4×4 trucks outfitted with a boom and winch system, allowing the team to lift animals directly into the truck. These trucks are large enough to accommodate small whales, dolphins and manatees.

The Northeast Field Lab has several boats, including a 21-foot Key West, that help them with entanglement and carcass recovery. It also serves as a research vessel for dolphin photo identification work. The newest vessel in the fleet includes a 26-foot modified mullet skiff, custom made for manatee rescue. This vessel is unique in that the motor is on the bow of the boat. The transom of the vessel comes off and a manatee can be netted and pulled unto the vessel. There are 11 feet of deck space, large enough for most manatees to be pulled onboard. Once a manatee is rescued, it will receive a ride in the marine mammal rescue truck to the zoo rehab center.

FWC NE Field Lab marine mammal rescue truck is specially designed to handle the rescue and recovery of marine mammals in our region. There is a lift gate on the end of the truck to lift animals up into the truck. The truck bed is equipped with air conditioning and heat. There are nice foam pads to make the journey comfortable for rescues. Also, they have small blow-up pools for small mammals. Other special gear includes stretchers and hoop nets they use for smaller mammals.

The FWC NE Field Lab also has a unique trailer that allows them to float a carcass onto the trailer and with a winch, pull it up onto the bed for hauling to the pathology lab. It is not an easy job to remove a carcass from the waterway. Law enforcement and volunteers provide important assistance in all cases.

The FWC-NE field team averages about 12 manatee rescues a year. They also recover about 50 manatee carcasses each year. And, they recover about 30 cetaceans, dolphins and whales per year. The FWC NE Field Lab serves 11 counties in Northeast Florida. They cover the Florida Georgia border south to Volusia County and west to Marion County.