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Manatee injured by boat rescued In Citrus county

By Barbara Behrendt, Times staff writer
Published February 15, 2008

Crystal River - Rescuers pulled a young female manatee that had been severely gouged by boat propellers from Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay on Wednesday, wildlife officials said.

Several people noticed the struggling 5-foot-long, 250-pound female manatee in an area popular with swimmers and boaters near the manatee sanctuary along the west coast of Citrus County. They notified the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Rescue Team, which responded to the scene Wednesday. The team, assisted by volunteers, helped bring the manatee to shore. The manatee was taken to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, where officials Thursday said it was in stable condition, according to Ivan Vicente of the wildlife refuge.

[Last modified February 14, 2008, 23:44:12]