A gentle giant was released back into the wild... after months of much-needed tender loving care. A seven foot manatee was rescued back in May, after getting stuck in a storm drain.
Alex de Armas reports.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
(NATS)
RESCUED AND FIXED-- NOW THIS MANATEE IS BACK HOME.
(Dr. Maya Rodriguez/Miami Seaquarium Veterinarian)
"Piper was just under a year old when she was rescued."
THIS IS PIPER-- SHE WAS FOUND IN A WATER STORM DRAIN OFF NEW RIVER IN BROWARD COUNTY BACK IN MAY.
(Dr. Maya Rodriguez/Miami Seaquarium Veterinarian)
"She squeezed through an 18 inch pipe so she managed to cut her flippers and body.
FORT LAUDERDALE FIRE RESCUE AND FWC STEPPED IN WITH CRANES-- RESCUING PIPER.
SINCE THEN-- SHES BEEN GETTING SOME TLC AT THE MIAMI SEAQUARIUM.
(Voice of Dr. Maya Rodriguez/Miami Seaquarium Veterinarian)
"When we checked her out, her blood, her body, her internal tract, she had eaten a lot of the garbage that was in there."
WITH SOME HELP FROM THESE TRAINERS AND KEEPERS--
(NATS)
THIS 500 POUND -- 7 FOOT LONG-- GIRL WAS REMOVED FROM HER TEMPORARY HOME IN MIAMI--
(NATS)
AND SENT BACK TO FORT LAUDERDALE.
(NATS):
(Alex De Armas/Miami)
"After some medication and some rehab...Piper is Now more then 200 pounds heavier, her scrapes are healed and she's on her way back to her natural waters."
(Voice of Dr. Maya Rodriguez/Miami Seaquarium Veterinarian)
"She's a manatee that they've observed at port Everglades, that they documented in a cold front. So that means that she really knows that water well so we are really excited to see what direction she goes."
SO FOUR MONTHS LATER...
(No Font Provided)
"Today's the day, today's the day she gets to go out and get released."
SHES OFF--
BUT BOATERS-- DONT FORGET.
(Voice of Dr. Maya Rodriguez/Miami Seaquarium Veterinarian)
"Manatee season is just around the corner, definitely watch out with boats. piper will be out there in those waters with the rest of the manatees."
Instructional Links
Website: Sea World Parks and Entertainment: Manatee
http://seaworld.org/en/animal-info/animal-infobooks/manatee/