POWELL, Ohio – Hurricane, a manatee that once called the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium home, will be released into the wild in Blue Springs State Park, Florida on Monday, February 11 between 10 and 11 a.m. EST.
Hurricane was captive born at Miami Seaquarium on November 23, 1983. In June of 1999 the Columbus Zoo opened Manatee Coast, Hurricane, along with Gene, Dundee and Comet were the original manatees to move into the new digs. “While at the Columbus Zoo Hurricane was often seen doing playful barrel rolls in the exhibit and was one of the most active manatees,” said Dave Ackerman, Shores Keeper for the Zoo.
In January of 2004, at the request of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hurricane was moved to Cincinnati Zoo to keep their manatee company. During his stay in Cincinnati Hurricane became sick and he began to lose weight. Due to this health decline Hurricane was then sent to Lowry Park Zoo in Florida in July, 2004 where he has resided since.
While at Lowry Park Zoo Hurricane’s illness improved and he has had a clean bill of health for the last year. Currently Hurricane is at a healthy weight to be released into the wild.
In 1997, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium became the first partner outside of the state of Florida in the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Program. Within the program, injured, sick or orphaned manatees are cared for by selected zoos and aquariums, and, if possible, released back into the wild. Since 1997 the Columbus Zoo has released six animals back into the wild (Gene, Dundee, Comet, Trident, Snorty and Brooks). Soon Hurricane will be added to that list and also join the rest of the Columbus Zoo’s original manatees in the wild.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10, $7 for children ages 2 to 9 and for seniors 60 and over. Children younger than 2 and Columbus Zoo members receive free admission. For additional information please visit www.columbuszoo.org <http://www.columbuszoo.org/> . The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With it’s more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org <http://www.aza.org/> .
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