Brevard Zoo set to build the first Manatee Rehabilitation Facility in Brevard County

Over the years, Brevard Zoo in Melbourne has stepped up to help an iconic Florida species: the manatee. Zoo volunteers have helped the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) during manatee rescues, releases and necropsies for the past 6 years. In 2021, the zoo raised money to establish and equip an expanded group of these volunteers to better help FWC.

Now, Brevard Zoo have announced that they plan to expand their efforts by building manatee rehabilitation facilities at ther Zoo!

The new rehabilitation center is being made possible by a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Sadly, Brevard County is at the epicenter of a historic wave of manatee deaths in recent years, largely due to environmental issues affecting seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. Since 2011, this biodiverse estuary has experienced countless algal blooms that have resulted in a significant loss of seagrass habitat, a critical food source for lagoon-dwelling manatees.

As a result, manatees in the area are dying of starvation at a record rate, leading FWC to declare an Unusual Mortality Event in March 2021.

Brevard Zoo's manatee rehabilitation center would be the first in Brevard County.

The zoo have also revealed that they are building a seagrass nursery to begin restoring this critical resource to the lagoon.

Brevard Zoo have said that they have already received permitting, grant funding and generous donations to establish these new manatee rehabilitation facilities.

While there are plans to create a rehabilitation center at Brevard Zoo's future Aquarium and Conservation Center, the zoo will begin their efforts by building three tanks in behind-the-scenes areas on Zoo grounds first.

These initial facilities will be able to care for stable, non-critical manatee patients in need of additional monitoring, weight gain or better weather conditions for release. The goal for all our manatee patients will be for eventual release back into their native range.

While construction gets started, the zoo's veterinary staff are working with neighboring facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) to learn more about manatee care.

The zoo's two veterinarians, Dr. Trevor Zachariah and Dr. Kyle Donnelly, will also be attending continuing education to learn more about this species. In addition to these education efforts for current staff, Brevard Zoo will be adding additional staff with experience working with manatees.

As a high-profile species, decisions on the care of our future patients will be made with the oversight of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and MRP.

A team from the MRP will decide when a manatee is ready for release as well as the release location. Our own staff will continue to be involved with manatee releases.

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