By Danny Valentine and Emily Nipps, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Biologists rescue a young manatee from the chilly waters of Bayboro Harbor.
ST. PETERSBURG — A juvenile manatee rescued from the chilly waters of Bayboro Haror is recuperating at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, officials said.
Biologists found the juvenile manatee Wednesday just outside the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg after getting a tip from a concerned resident, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The manatee was thin and showed signs of cold stress, including lesions along its body. The condition can be fatal and happens when manatees are exposed to water below 68 degrees, according to the wildlife commission.
The manatee was placed in a warm "medical pool" when he arrived at Lowry Park, zoo spokeswoman Rachel Nelson said, and he went right to sleep. He was lethargic Thursday ...