Ilya the Manatee Goes Home

Scientists have monitored Ilya, a 10-year old, 10-foot long male Florida manatee, for the last 10 years and watched him migrate as far north as Massachusetts. Last month, Ilya was seen regularly off the New Jersey coast, causing speculation that he might freeze to death as the water dipped below 65 degrees.

Finally, a secret rescue was planned. Last year's rescue of Dennis, another male manatee, from Cape Cod, ended in frustration as Dennis died shortly after being transported to Florida. So Ilya's rescue was hush-hush, due to worry that an onslaught of media and well-wishers would stress the manatee.

When he was rescued on October 29, Ilya was near the outfall pipe of a refinery, where the water was a chilly 53 degrees. Rescuers herded Ilya to a nearby creek, where they lifted him into a stretcher using a net and a crane. He was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ, and then transported by a U.S. Coast Guard cargo jet, then by van, to the Miami Seaquarium in Florida where he is currently recovering. Rescuers hope he will be returned to the wild.

Learn More

• Wayward Manatees
• Florida Manatee Facts
• Northernmost Manatee Dies During Rescue Attempt

Image Of a Florida Manatee Courtesy Jim Reid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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