Susan Strawbridge
Park Services Specialist, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Krystal, an orphaned female manatee calf, who was brought to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for rehabilitation in March is growing and doing well.

Before her rescue, United State Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) volunteers Captains Stacy and Mike Dunn had been keeping an eye on the young manatee in the Crystal River’s Three Sisters Springs, and noticed that she was always seen alone and appeared to be losing weight.

This was reported to the FWS rescue staff and after a 20-minute pursuit Krystal was netted and placed in a rescue trailer for transport to Miami Seaquarium for treatment.

Only 198 pounds and six feet in length when she was found, by March 11, she weighed in at approximately 300 pounds and the decision was made by veterinarians to move her to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for further rehabilitation in the park’s Manatee Isolation Pool. There she shared the pool with CR Fisher, a manatee who was recovering from having ingested fishing line. Park Veterinarian Dr. Mike Walsh medically cleared CR Fisher and he was returned to the wild on May 4 by FWS.

Consulting manatee veterinarians and biologists felt that Krystal still required more growth time before she would be ready for release. But rather than leaving her alone in the isolation pool,, they decided to move her into the protected natural spring run of the park where she could join the park’s six resident female manatees. This created some real excitement among the long-term female captives; Rosie, Amanda, Betsy, Ariel, Lorelei and Electra; who all wanted to become her surrogate mother.

Wildlife Care Supervisor Susan Lowe reports, “Krystal has settled in very well with the other female manatees who are all taking turns being very protective of her.” Park staff and visitors are also enjoying watching Krystal and the older and much larger manatees as they move around the spring run, attend the manatee educational programs and swim around the Fish Bowl underwater observatory.

Krystal will be released sometime next year in the Crystal River area, although her “big sisters” will be very sorry to see her go!