The Manatee  Rehabilitation Partnership  (MRP) was established in late 2001 and marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation in the manatee rehabilitation effort. Prior to the formation of the MRP, state and federal agencies exclusively provided post-release monitoring for Florida manatee rehabilitated at permitted and contracted manatee rehabilitation facilities in Florida. Because it is difficult to maintain funding levels necessary to meet all of the escalating manatee conservation needs, these agencies are no longer able to bare sole responsibility to provide this service. However tracking the fate and health of rehabilitated and released manatees is essential to determining the successful contribution of the rehabilitation program to the recovery of Florida manatee population.

The Belizean Manatee Project is a cooperative effort of Wildlife Trust, the Florida Marine Research Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory, USA Fish and Wildlife Service's Sirenia Project, the Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority, and others. Currently, we are following the travels of one female manatee living in Northern Lagoon, located between Gales Point Village and Belize City  in central Belize.