Clearwater Marine Aquarium Welcomes Three New Manatee Patients

Manatee Rehabilitation Center reopens, honors legacy of conservation leader Dr. James “Buddy” Powell

Clearwater, Florida. (November 11, 2025) — Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) has officially reopened its Manatee Rehabilitation Center and welcomed its first new patients of the year—three juvenile manatees named Sabal, Orchid, and Vora. The reopening marks a major milestone for CMA, after more than a year of closure due to extensive hurricane damage, sustaining over $2.5 million in damages from Hurricanes Helene and Milton during the 2024 season.

CMA’s Manatee Rehabilitation Center, part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), received the trio after their transport from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, where they were previously being rehabilitated. Three additional manatees from the same transport group were safely delivered to two other area manatee centers.

Marine mammal experts at CMA will monitor the three patients as they acclimate to their new habitat, which will be open for guests’ viewing in the coming week(s) and will be announced. It is anticipated that these patients will be released in early 2026 back to the wild, where they will be monitored by CMA Research Institute (CMARI) scientists for the MRP.

CMA will proudly dedicate its new manatee rehabilitation facility to Dr. James “Buddy” Powell, a visionary leader whose passion and perseverance transformed the field of marine conservation. As CMA’s former Chief Zoological Officer and Executive Director of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), Dr. Powell devoted more than five decades to the study and protection of manatees worldwide. His legacy lives on in every rescued, rehabilitated, and released manatee—and in the hearts of those inspired by his work.

“This facility stands as a testament to Dr. Powell’s enduring impact and CMA’s unwavering commitment to marine life,” said Joe Handy, CEO of CMA. “It is more than a building—it is a promise to continue the work he began, ensuring manatees receive the care and protection they deserve.”

“CMA has been dedicated to the conservation and protection of manatees for over two decades,” said Handy. “Rehabilitation is a crucial part of our mission, and we are proud to welcome manatee patients here and be part of the solution alongside our partners at the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. We are the first responders of the ocean—from research to monitoring—and we are committed to protecting this keystone species.”

Since opening in July 2024, the Manatee Rehabilitation Center has provided “second stage” care for manatees who are no longer in need of critical care, but have not yet met the milestones needed for release. They are also designed to relieve capacity at critical care facilities at ZooTampa and SeaWorld Orlando, which often care for more than 20 manatees each at a time.

The first manatee patients welcomed to CMA were Yeti and Zamboni. Unfortunately, their stays were cut short due to Hurricane Helene Sept. 26, and they were safely transported to ZooTampa the next day. The two manatees were both eventually released back to the wild in early 2025.

Sabal – Rescued: Sept. 1, 2023, as an orphan in Boggy Bayou, Palm Harbor. Planned Release: Crystal River, FL — to be tagged and monitored by CMARI
Orchid – Rescued: March 13, 2024, as an orphan in Kings Bay, Crystal River. Planned Release: Crystal River, FL — to be tagged and monitored by CMARI
Vora – Rescued: Oct. 2, 2023, as an orphan in Lake Santa Barbara, Pompano Beach. Planned Release: Blue Spring, FL — to be tagged and monitored by CMARI

Manatees are a keystone species and vital indicators of aquatic ecosystem health. CMA’s rehabilitation center allows guests to observe manatees under care while learning about the threats they face—such as habitat loss, boat strikes, entanglement and pollution—and how individuals can contribute to their protection.

This state-of-the-art center features ozone treatment systems and medical habitats with adjustable floors, ensuring the safety and comfort of every animal in rehabilitation. CMA’s goal is to provide comprehensive care for sick, injured, and orphaned manatees—supporting their full recovery and eventual return to the wild.

Through CMARI, CMA has tagged and monitored more than 100 manatees in collaboration with the MRP. The data collected over the past 20 years has been vital in tracking migration patterns, habitat use, and post-release success—both in rehabilitated and wild manatees across the southeastern United States and the Caribbean.

Funding for CMA’s manatee rehabilitation efforts is made possible through the State of Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Duke Energy Foundation, the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, and generous private donors.

For more information, visit www.cmaquarium.org.

All activities conducted under USFWS Permit #MA66524C

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Media Contact: Marsha Strickhouser | mstrickhouser@CMAquarium.org | (727) 242-0770

About Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, a nurse shark and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.

We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.

A Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization