There's something truly magical happening in Florida's waters, and it's all thanks to the tireless heroes at ZooTampa. In 2025, the organization celebrated a historic achievement by successfully rehabilitating and releasing 26 manatees back into their ocean home—the highest number in the zoo's remarkable history of marine mammal conservation.

This milestone represents more than just numbers; it's a testament to the power of compassionate care and dedicated conservation efforts. Each rescued manatee has its own unique story of survival, like Mudonna the manatee, who recently made her triumphant journey back to the wild after receiving expert treatment at the facility.

At the heart of this success story is the David Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the United States. Since opening its doors in 1991, this extraordinary center has provided life-saving care to over 615 manatees, with the overwhelming majority successfully returning to their natural habitat. It's a success rate that speaks volumes about the expertise and dedication of everyone involved.

The rehabilitation program represents a significant investment in Florida's natural heritage, with annual operating costs of $2 million. This funding supports an exceptional team of veterinarians, including two US Fish and Wildlife Service-certified manatee critical care specialists, along with highly trained animal care professionals who work around the clock to ensure each manatee receives the best possible care.

These gentle giants of Florida's waters face numerous challenges, from boat strikes to habitat loss. While it's sobering to note that 97 manatees lost their lives to boat collisions in 2025, the work being done at ZooTampa offers genuine hope for the species' future. Every manatee saved and returned to the wild represents a victory for conservation and a chance for these magnificent creatures to thrive.

The excitement doesn't stop with this year's achievements. In spring 2026, ZooTampa will unveil the stunning Straz Family Manatee Rescue facility, a state-of-the-art center that will transform how visitors connect with conservation efforts. This innovative space will feature immersive, eye-level underwater viewing areas, allowing guests to witness the incredible rescue and rehabilitation work in real time.

The new facility's design is both functional and educational, featuring five critical care pools with innovative floors that can be raised to bring manatees out of the water for medical treatments—all visible to visitors. Two additional naturalistic rehabilitation pools will showcase manatees as they prepare for their journey back to freedom, helping visitors understand the careful process that goes into ensuring each animal is truly ready to return home.

This record-breaking year at ZooTampa reminds us that when dedicated professionals combine expertise with compassion, remarkable things happen. Every manatee that swims back into Florida's waters carries with it a message of hope—that through conservation efforts, education, and community support, we can make a real difference in protecting our planet's precious wildlife for generations to come.