Manatee Updates

Name: Slip

Released: February 2010

Data Map

Biography: Slip was born in captivity at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, on November 22, 1991. Since then he has spent time at Cincinnati Zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio and Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. Slip was released on February 15, 2010 at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Florida. He weighed 1440 lbs and was 307 cm long on the day of his release.

Field Notes:

7/14/10-7/27/10: Slip was observed on Thursday, 7/15/10, in southeast Lake Dexter with three other animals. The group socialized, milled, and fed for 20 minutes. On Tuesday, 7/20/10, he was again seen in the southeast corner of Lake Dexter with five other animals. They milled to the north shore of the lake and then the western end, cavorting for brief periods and socializing.

6/30/10-7/13/10: Slip was observed on Saturday, 7/10/10, in Stagger Mud Lake west of Lake Dexter. He was with two other animals, milling and socializing, and could have been feeding for 15 minutes on submerged vegetation but could not confirm.

6/19/10-6/29/10: Slip was observed in Stagger Mud Lake on Monday, 6/21/10, with one other animal, bottom-resting and then milling.

6/10/10 – 6/18/10: Slip traveled along the northern edge of Lake Dexter this week to Tick Island Creek before returning to Stagger Mud Lake.

6/02/10 – 6/09/10: Slip was observed about a quarter mile east of Lake Dexter in Tick Island Creek on Tuesday, 6/01/10. He was by himself and alternately milling and traveling east down the creek toward Lake Woodruff.

5/25/10 – 6/01/10: Since last week Slip has returned north to Stagger Mud Lake near Lake Dexter and has spent most of this week there.

5/18/10-5/24/10: Slip was observed on Friday, 5/21/10, in the main channel of the river south of Horseshoe Mud Lake by himself. He was traveling south down the river during much of the afternoon.

Slip was observed on Friday, 5/21/10, in the main channel of the river south of Horseshoe Mud Lake by himself. He was traveling south down the river during much of the afternoon.

5/11/10-5/17/10: Slip has been moving between the cove northwest of Lake Dexter and Stagger Mud Lake to the southwest, staying along the western shore of the river.

Slip has been moving between the cove northwest of Lake Dexter and Stagger Mud Lake to the southwest, staying along the western shore of the river.

5/06/10-5/10/10: Slip was observed on Thursday, 5/06/10, in the cove west of Lake Dexter. He was with 3 other animals, first cavorting and then socializing and milling.

4/28/10-5/10/10: Slip was observed on Wednesday, 4/28/10, in Stagger Mud Lake, socializing and milling with 3 other animals.

4/20/10-4/27/10: Slip was found milling around Stagger Mud Lake southwest of Lake Dexter on Friday, 4/23/10. He was by himself.

4/13/10-4/19/10: On Tuesday, 4/13/10, Slip and two other animals traveled and milled along the western edge of Lake Dexter. Weather was very windy and the lake was extremely choppy that day.

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2/15/10-2/28/10: Slip was released at Blue Spring State Park on Monday, 2/15/10, by Lowry Park Zoo, Blue Spring park staff, and Sea to Shore Alliance. He socialized with other animals there that afternoon. Slip has spent the week at Blue Spring bottom-resting, doing barrel-rolls at the boil, and socializing. He bottom-rested at the boil with 5 other animals on Sunday, 2/21/10.

3/01/10-3/08/10: On Friday, 3/05/10, Slip socialized with 7 other animals at Blue Spring. He was milling by himself near the entrance to the river from Blue Spring on Sunday, 3/07/10, then joined a large group of animals to socialize later that afternoon.

3/09/10-3/15/10: Slip was observed on Friday, 3/12/10, at Blue Spring close to the entrance of the St. Johns River. He socialized with seven other animals.

3/16/10-3/23/10: Slip was observed on Monday, 3/15/10, at the entrance to Blue Spring. He milled on the south bank, then joined a group of 13 animals to bottom-rest. On Wednesday, 3/17/10, he traveled north up Norris Dead River to the south entrance of Lake Woodruff. He was observed on Saturday, 3/20/10, in the lake off of Zeigler Dead River milling and bottom-resting by himself, but several other animals were in the area. Lots of animals were seen in the river. A dorsal view of his body was obtained and he has no new scars or signs of cold stress at this point.

3/24/10-3/31/10: Slip has spent this week in the northern part of Lake Woodruff. He was observed on Wednesday, 3/24/10, in the northeast corner of the lake in the slow zone along the shore with 2 other animals. The group traveled and milled westward along the shore.

4/01/10-4/06/10: Slip has traveled between Lake Woodruff and Lake Dexter this week. He was observed on Tuesday, 3/30/10, at DeLeon Springs milling with 3 other animals.

4/07/10-4/12/10: Slip was observed on Wednesday, 4/07/10, in northern Lake Dexter with 5 other animals. The others were milling and feeding; Slip was milling and possibly feeding but this could not be confirmed.

Slip was released at Blue Spring State Park on Monday, 2/15/10, by Lowry Park Zoo, Blue Spring park staff, and Sea to Shore Alliance. He socialized with other animals there that afternoon. Slip has spent the week at Blue Spring bottom-resting, doing barrel-rolls at the boil, and socializing. He bottom-rested at the boil with 5 other animals on Sunday, 2/21/10.

3/01/10-3/08/10: On Friday, 3/05/10, Slip socialized with 7 other animals at Blue Spring. He was milling by himself near the entrance to the river from Blue Spring on Sunday, 3/07/10, then joined a large group of animals to socialize later that afternoon.

3/09/10-3/15/10: Slip was observed on Friday, 3/12/10, at Blue Spring close to the entrance of the St. Johns River. He socialized with seven other animals.

3/16/10-3/23/10: Slip was observed on Monday, 3/15/10, at the entrance to Blue Spring. He milled on the south bank, then joined a group of 13 animals to bottom-rest. On Wednesday, 3/17/10, he traveled north up Norris Dead River to the south entrance of Lake Woodruff. He was observed on Saturday, 3/20/10, in the lake off of Zeigler Dead River milling and bottom-resting by himself, but several other animals were in the area. Lots of animals were seen in the river. A dorsal view of his body was obtained and he has no new scars or signs of cold stress at this point.

4/01/10-4/06/10: Slip has traveled between Lake Woodruff and Lake Dexter this week. He was observed on Tuesday, 3/30/10, at DeLeon Springs milling with 3 other animals.

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