Six orphaned manatees recently traveled over 1,000 miles from Ohio to Florida, marking a major milestone in a multi-year conservation effort.
They were secured in custom-built travel containers, driven to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and flown on a specially scheduled DHL cargo flight on November 9, 2025. In Florida, they will complete the final stages of rehabilitation before returning to the waters where they were first rescued.
At the same time, six other manatees traveled from Florida to Ohio on November 12 to continue rehabilitation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
This work is part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), which includes the Columbus Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, and SeaWorld Orlando. The partnership rescues, rehabilitates, and eventually returns manatees to Florida waters.
Three of the manatees leaving Ohio, Clawford, Sabal, and Cobble, had been at the Columbus Zoo since October 2024. Clawford went to SeaWorld Orlando, Sabal to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Cobble to The Seas With Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. Three more, Vora, Orchid, and Lilypad, also returned to Florida after temporary care at the Columbus Zoo.
The manatees arriving in Ohio joined new and familiar faces at the Columbus and Cincinnati zoos.
Redrock, Rosalyn, and Noface met long-term resident Stubby at the Columbus Zoo, while Slushie, Hundo, and Alfred joined the Cincinnati Zoo’s manatee family.
DHL Express transported the manatees in containers with thick foam bedding, blankets to maintain body temperature, and regular misting to keep their skin moist. Zoo veterinarians accompanied the animals throughout the flights to ensure their safety.
Florida manatees face many threats, including cold stress, disease, boat strikes, and loss of sea grass. Conservation efforts like this give these gentle animals a second chance and show what can be achieved when multiple organizations work together.
