Meet the Manatees Available for Adoption
- All
- Alabama
- Blue Spring State Park
- East Coast
- Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
- Legacy Adoptions
- Tampa Bay
- The Florida Keys
Amanda
Amanda was rescued with her calf Ariel in 1973 and was known to be “assertive, extroverted, and impressive!” She passed away in 2011 during a medical procedure.
Annie
Annie was rescued as an orphaned calf and released in 2008. Not a shy manatee, she is quite popular with Blue Spring State Park visitors.
Aqua
Aqua was first sighted at the park in 2011 and has been a regular winter visitor since. Identified by scars on her left shoulder, she has had five known calves.
Ariel
Ariel was just two weeks old when she was rescued with her mom, Amanda. She lifts her head out of the water to “smile” at manatee education program visitors.
Bama
Bama made history in 2009 as the first manatee captured and tagged in Alabama waters. Bama typically migrates from Alabama to Florida’s west coast each winter.
Betsy
Nicknamed by her namesake as “The Inspector,” Betsy the manatee is very friendly and curious, and she is quick to investigate anything new.
Brutus
Brutus is one of Blue Spring’s largest manatees. He weighs in at almost 1,900 pounds and has been a regular winter visitor since 1970.
Chessie
In 1994, Chessie the manatee was a Chesapeake Bay sensation, rescued after straying north and refusing to return south for the winter.
Deep Dent
Deep Dent is a medium-sized male who first showed up at Blue Spring State Park in 1979. He has a deep, “dent-like,” propeller wound on his tail.
Doc
Doc has returned to Blue Spring State Park nearly every winter since 1976, and he’s one of the few manatees frequently spotted in the spring in the summer.
Elaine
Elaine had her first calf at age 5 in 1990, and got into her fair share of mischief at Blue Spring State Park! Elaine was last seen in 2013.
Electra
Rescued in 1998, park staff said that Electra was spunky and liked to follow her own path despite her injuries. She passed away in August 2020.
Elsie
Elsie was first documented in 1983 as part of a photo identification program. She has 2 known calves and once traveled 111 miles in 23 days.
Ester
Born in 1990 to Elaine, Ester is part of one of the longest genealogies at Blue Spring State Park.
Flash
Flash is a large male manatee first identified in 1977 at Blue Spring State Park. He is shy of human contact and will take off in a “flash” when disturbed.
Flicker
Flicker is an adult female first documented in 1983 in Ft. Myers. She has a series of small propeller scars that remind researchers of flickering flames.
Floyd
Floyd was born in the summer of 1978. He is easily identified by the park’s rangers because of an old injury that left him with only half a tail.
Gator
Gator was first identified in 2011 at Blue Spring State Park. He was seen on the webcam chasing and playing with an alligator at the park, earning him his name!
Georgia
Georgia was a favorite at Blue Spring State Park who passed away in 2015. She was a wonderful, caring mother for her own calves and also for orphans in need.
Ginger
Ginger frequents the west coast of Florida, typically just to the south of Tampa Bay. Ginger has had two known calves, one of whom is named Ale!
Howie
Howie is a male manatee who has wintered at Blue Spring since 1971. In a mischievous incident, he tipped the research canoe—complete with researchers in it!
Illusion
Illusion was rescued in March 2010 after a terrible boat strike. After being released, she is often seen along the east coast of south Florida.
Ilya
Ilya famously traveled to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 2009. He passed away in July 2018 in the Florida Keys due to fatal injuries from a watercraft collision.
Jemp
Jemp was rescued in 1995 after being exposed to red tide and released later that year. Jemp travels in a wide range along Florida’s west coast.
Lenny
Lenny was born to Luna in 1978 and winters at Blue Spring State Park each year. Lenny is the resident “couch potato,” preferring rest to all other activities.
Lesley
After suffering a boat hit in 2015, Lesley needed several surgeries and nearly three years in rehabilitation to recover. She passed away in February 2023.
Lily
Lily is one of the few adult females to regularly winter at the Blue Spring State Park. She has returned each year since 1974 and has had at least 11 calves.
Lorelei
Lorelei was the first manatee born and raised under human care in Florida. Lorelei passed away peacefully on April 23, 2018.
Lucille
Lucille regularly winters at Blue Spring State Park. She was born in 1980, had her first calf at an early age, and became a grandmother in 1993.
Margarito
Margarito is the son of Lily, who brought him to Blue Spring State Park on November 24, 1984. He has returned every winter since.
Merlin
Noted at Blue Spring State Park since attendance records first began in 1970, Merlin earned the nickname “Tail-End Charlie,” as he often arrives late each year.
Millie
First identified in 1980, Millie is one of the largest manatees ever recorded. She is a traveler with a long sighting history along Florida’s southeast coast.
Moo Shoo
Moo Shoo is a female manatee first identified in 2010, Moo Shoo loves to nudge the research canoe and has had four calves.
Nick
First identified in 1977, Nick is a small adult male who earned the nickname “Crazy Nick” after he was recorded going north rather than south in midwinter.
Paddy Doyle
Paddy Doyle was named by researchers after the famous “fighting Irishman,” as he bears the distinction of being one of the feistiest manatees at the park.
Philip
Born in the summer of 1982, Philip was one of the most playful manatees as a youngster. He also seems to love canoes and follows the research canoe everywhere!
Phyllis
In 1991, Phyllis gave birth to twins—a rare event for manatees. She is now the mother of several calves and a regular winter visitor to the park.
Robin
Researchers know Robin was born on April 15, 1980, since his mother was being monitored at the time of his birth. Robin was last seen in February 2016.
Rocket
Rocket is a male manatee, rescued as a tiny orphan in 2006. He was released with Annie at Blue Spring State Park, and they stayed together for over a year.
Rosie
Affectionately called “The Matriarch” by the park staff, Rosie acted as a surrogate mother to many injured and orphaned manatees. She passed away in 2015.
Squeaky
Squeaky was born at Blue Spring on June 13, 2011. Due to her young age and small markings when she was added to the program, we have lost track of her.
Success
Success got her name because she was Sweetgums’ first “successful” calf. Success was last seen February 24, 2000, and likely passed away sometime that year.
Una
Rescued in 2003 as an orphan, Una faced additional challenges with fishing line entanglement. Following treatment, she is once again doing well in the wild.
Vector
Vector is a traveling man(atee) and has been tracked in Florida as far north as the Suwannee River and as far south as the Peace River.
Whiskers
Whiskers is the son of Dana, a former Blue Spring adoptee. She introduced him to Blue Spring in 1996, and he has been visiting the park ever since that time.
