Chessie the Manatee returns health to the Sea!

As many of you know SeaWorld Orlando invests thousand of dollars and is crucial to helping our Florida wildlife with their rescue and rehabilitation efforts. This time, Animal rescue from SeaWorld Orlando has great news! – Chessie the manatee was successfully rehabbed at SeaWorld Orlando and returned to the wild at Anchorage Park in North Palm Beach Florida yesterday.  He was rescued most recently in Rivera Beach, FL on February 5, 2021 by FWC due to buoyancy issues. Radiographs have shown that Chessie was suffering from pneumonia. He was been given nebulizer treatments, which is a first for a manatee  at SeaWorld.

Chessie has a unique history and has been featured in several articles and even a few children’s books!  

About Chessie

Chessie was first sited in the Chesapeake Bay area in the fall of 1994. It was thought that he was not going to be able to migrate all the way back to FL before the ocean waters became dangerously cold. U.S. Fish and Wildlife, SeaWorld Orlando, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources all worked together to rescue Chessie near the Bay Bridge in Queenstown, Maryland. He was brought to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a few days before being flown back to Florida by the U.S. Coast Guard. Before being released, Chessie was fitted with a tracking device. In 1995, information from the tracker showed Chessie was right back up north. This time, he didn’t stop in the Chesapeake but continued up to New England. He made it to Judith Point, Rhode Island before turning back south.This was the first time a manatee had been confirmed north of the Chesapeake Bay.

Chessie has been outfitted with trackers three times but has managed to lose them each time. When he does not have a device, he can be easily recognized by a distinct scar down the left side of his body. He was again spotted in Virginia in August of 2001 and then not again until turning up in Calvert County, Maryland in 2011. This sighting in 2011 was his last confirmed sighting until now. Chessie has been featured in multiple children’s books He was rescued most recently in Rivera Beach, FL on 2/5/2021.

He was rescued by FWC due to buoyancy issues. Radiographs have shown that Chessie was suffering from pneumonia. He has been given nebulizer treatments, which is a first for a manatee at SeaWorld.Chessie was first sited in the Chesapeake Bay area in the fall of 1994. It was thought that he was not going to be able to migrate all the way back to FL before the ocean waters became dangerously cold.U.S. Fish and Wildlife, SeaWorld Orlando, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources all worked together to rescue Chessie near the Bay Bridge. He was brought to the National Aquarium for a few days before being flown back to Florida by the U.S. Coast Guard.Before being released, Chessie was fitted with a tracking device.

In 1995, information from the tracker showed Chessie was right back up north. This time, he didn’t stop in the Chesapeake but continued up to New England. He made it to Judith Point, Rhode Island before turning back south.oThis was the first time a manatee had been confirmed north of the Chesapeake Bay. Chessie has been outfitted with trackers three times but has managed to lose them each time. oWhen he does not have a device, he can be easily recognized by a distinct scar down theleft side of his body. He was again spotted in Virginia in August of 2001 and then not again until turning up in Calvert County, Maryland in 2011. This sighting in 2011 was his last confirmed sighting until now.Chessie has been featured in multiple children’s books, and his story is featured here at SeaWorld on the screens near the manatee rehabilitation pools. He was rescued most recently in Rivera Beach, FL on 2/5/2021. He was rescued by FWC due to buoyancy issues. Radiographs have shown that Chessie was suffering from pneumonia. oHe has been given nebulizer treatments, which is a first for a manatee here at SeaWorld.