Turtle (field notes)

Turtle is a male manatee that was rescued as an orphan at Satellite Beach, Brevard County on 4/24/03.  He was 104 cm in length and weighed only 55 lbs.  Turtle was taken to SeaWorld of Florida and after 13 months he was transferred to Columbus Zoo in May 2004.  Turtle received his name because he was originally housed in one of SeaWorld’s turtle rehabilitation tanks due to limited manatee rehabilitation tank space.  Turtle was released on 2/20/06 at Blue Spring State Park with several other rehabilitated manatees.  Turtle was 261 cm in length and weighed 995 lbs on the day of his release.  

Turtle traveled out of BS the night after his release to an area just north of the spring but returned to the spring the following morning.  During the early morning hours of Wednesday, Turtle traveled four miles south to a known manatee area off the main river.

The three released males have been seen following and mouthing females to the point the females move away from the general area.