Injured mother manatee and calf are rescued in Florida and taken to SeaWorld

This image provided by Lee County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staffers net an injured mother manatee and her calf in the Orange River near Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 (Lee County Sheriff's Office via AP)

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — An injured mother manatee and her calf were rescued this week from a river in Florida and taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation, officials said.

Drone pilots provided the rescuers with , guiding their boat toward the manatees on Wednesday, then buzzing overhead to document the animals being pulled from the Orange River near Fort Meyers.

The Associated Press

More Environment Stories

Sign Up to Newsletters

Get the latest from ºÃÉ«tvNews in your inbox. Select the emails you're interested in below.