Three orphaned manatees released at Blue Spring after reaching their benchmarks
Published · Researched 2026-09-22
What happened (dated facts)
Three orphaned female manatees — CardiTee, Clawford, and Lilypad — were released at Blue Spring State Park on 2026-02-12 after reaching health and weight benchmarks at SeaWorld Orlando. The manatees were fitted with satellite tags for monitoring. WKMG, WFTV, and Central Florida Public Media all covered the release (2026-02-12). CardiTee had previously required re-rescue, making this her completed second chance.
Why it is genuinely positive
Three orphaned manatees, one on her second chance, made it back to the wild.
Social pulse
WKMG, WFTV, and Central Florida Public Media coverage of the release day.
Verified quotes
- None captured
Verification
- Tier: 2
- Primary source: SeaWorld Orlando release (via WKMG/WFTV/Central Florida Public Media, 2026-02-12) — names all three manatees and confirms the release.
- Social sources: Regional TV news coverage; wildlife-community sharing.
- Positivity check: Completed release of all three manatees at documented health benchmarks.
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animals | CardiTee, Clawford, Lilypad — orphaned female manatees | WKMG / WFTV | 2026-02-12 |
| Outcome | Released at Blue Spring State Park with satellite tags | WKMG / WFTV | 2026-02-12 |
| Note | CardiTee had previously required re-rescue | WKMG | 2026-02-12 |
UNVERIFIED points
- Long-term outcomes beyond the initial satellite-tag monitoring period.