Whitaker Bayou (field notes)

Whitaker Bayou is a female manatee that was rescued as an orphan with cold stress in Whitaker Bayou, Sarasota County on 2/9/06.  She was 184 cm in length and weighed only 285 lbs.  Whitaker was taken to Lowry Park Zoo to recover from cold stress, grow and gain weight.  Whitaker was released on 2/16/07 at Warm Mineral Springs with two other rehabilitated manatees.  Whitaker was 240 cm in length and weighed 745 lbs on the day of her release.