Tawana, a Florida manatee, was first identified by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) in January 2019 at Salt Spring during a photo identification study focused on manatee use in the lower St. Johns River. In January 2024, she was relocated at Silver Glen Spring with a monofilament line wrapped tightly around her right flipper, cutting into her skin and posing a risk of permanent damage.

Over the next year, multiple sightings of Tawana were recorded. She was seen at Silver River in February 2024 and January 2025, and later at Moss Bluff Lock in February and March 2025, each time still entangled. Rescue teams from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) found the situation challenging as Tawana often did not remain in one location long enough for safe intervention.

In December 2025, CMARI documented Tawana again at Silver Glen Spring. On December 17, a field disentanglement was conducted by an FWC-led team including staff and volunteers from FWC, CMARI, Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue (UFMAR), and the U.S. Forest Service Ocala National Forest. Veterinary staff from UFMAR and technicians from JZBG successfully removed six embedded strands of monofilament from Tawana's right flipper that had caused skin damage and restricted movement. During the rescue, Tawana underwent a full health assessment. Measurements taken indicated that she was just under 11 feet long, weighed over 1,500 pounds, and was suspected to be pregnant.

CMARI also equipped Tawana with a GPS satellite tag as part of the Ocklawaha Manatee Movement study. The tag will provide data on habitat use and health to assist scientists and management teams in understanding manatee movements, especially in relation to lock systems and large lake habitats along Florida’s east coast and the upper St. Johns River.

Source: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Source Type: Community

Source Location: Clearwater

Ocala, FL

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