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Injured manatee rescued

By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published February 19, 2007

CRYSTAL RIVER - An injured manatee was removed from Three Sisters Springs and taken to a treatment center in Orlando on Saturday.

The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Rescue Team recovered a 7-foot, 700-pound female manatee from Three Sisters Springs on Saturday, according to Ivan Vicente of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which has an office in Kings Bay Drive.

A manatee rescue team of refuge staffers and volunteers used a net to block off the spring run while team members coaxed the manatee into a second net arranged along the shoreline of the Three Sisters, Vicente said in a written statement.

Once the manatee was secured, team members lifted the manatee into the waiting transport trailer, which was taken to SeaWorld Orlando. The manatee will undergo rehabilitation there.

Dive shop owner and tour captain Diane Ostereich, of Birds Underwater, said she saw the manatee before the rescue. She said it was having difficulties remaining in an upright swimming position.

"It was listing to one side and seemed to have a swelling on its back," she said. "I think it was probably caused by a boat collision."

Jorge Sanchez can be reached at 352 860-7313 or sanchez@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 18, 2007, 21:17:12]