Manatee released in St. Augustine after spending months at Jacksonville zoo’s critical care center

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Be free, Gerard! After spending more than two months at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ manatee critical care center, Gerard is back in his natural habitat.

The male manatee, believed to be around 2.5 to 3 years old, was found beached near Palm Coast on April 30.

The staff said he was very thin, weighing 491 pounds. Gerard was given treatments to improve his low blood glucose and hydration status.

{Click here to see photos of the manatee release}

“Once those values stabilized, Gerard felt good enough to start eating on his own, which is always an exciting moment for us,” Dr. Meredith Persky, a veterinarian at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, said.

Now, Gerard is at a healthy 601 pounds. Zoo staff released him back into the water in St. Augustine on Wednesday. They were thrilled to release him in much better shape then he was found.

Manatee released in St. Augustine after spending months at Jacksonville zoo’s critical care center

Gerard marked the zoo’s 23rd manatee released from its critical care center.

Currently, there is an ongoing federal investigation into a record number of manatee deaths along the Atlantic coast of Florida. The deaths are believed to be because of a reduction in food availability, seagrass.

Blood samples from Gerard were sent to the University of Florida to assist in the investigation.

If you see an injured marine mammal, call the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC) or dial *FWC on a cellular device.

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After spending more than two months at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ manatee critical care center, Gerard is back in his natural habitat. (Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens)

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