Today is the 40th rescueversary of Sara the manatee at SeaWorld Orlando. Sara is arguably one of the park’s most beloved animals, and we are celebrating her today!
Sara was rescued on October 14, 1986, in Venice Beach, Florida, after her mother was believed to have been killed by a boat strike. She was about 80lbs and measured only 4.3 feet at the time of her rescue. She now weighs over 3,000lbs and measures over 12 feet in length and is thought to be one of the largest manatees on record in human care. Let’s just say she’s really enjoyed the amenities SeaWorld has offered her over the years at the Manatee Rescue Center, which is as impressive as Sara is herself.
Sara’s size, or even her age, isn’t what makes Sara stand out, though. Over the years, Sara has become known for something much more special: a foster mom!
Yes, Sara is very well known for her nurturing ways with the younger rescues. More often than not, you will see her surrounded by a group of calves. They always seem to gravitate toward her, and though she has never given birth, she even lets the calves try to nurse. Even if she doesn’t produce milk, it’s still natural for the little ones to try, and she’s always been patient with them. One might even call her a “Mamatee.” Forty years is a remarkable milestone, and Sara has been at SeaWorld Orlando long enough to witness several generations of animal care specialists, enormous advances in veterinary medicine, and countless manatee rescue stories unfold around her.
The Manatee Rescue Center is much more than what guests see when they visit the park. Behind the scenes, SeaWorld’s team cares for manatees that come in for all kinds of reasons, including boat strikes, cold stress, entanglements, illness, malnutrition, and orphaned calves. Whenever possible, the goal is to help them recover and eventually return them to Florida’s waters. Over the last 40 years, that means Sara has had quite a few temporary roommates come and go. Young calves can find themselves at SeaWorld under heartbreaking circumstances, particularly when a mother dies or the pair becomes separated. Human caregivers can provide food, veterinary treatment, and round-the-clock attention, but only another manatee can provide certain things, and that’s where Sara seems to shine.
Sara’s incredible size has naturally become part of her reputation. Florida manatees are already substantial animals, but Sara is in a league of her own. At more than 3,000 pounds, her sheer size can be startling at first, especially when she swims beside one of the much smaller calves. It also makes those scenes with her tiny companions ridiculously adorable. Her size may draw your attention, but her personality is what tends to keep it. Like many animals that have lived in one place for decades, Sara has become a superstar over the years, one returning guests recognize, and animal care teams have known for years. People who remember visiting Sara as children can now bring their own children to see her.
Sara’s 40th rescueversary also gives us a chance to appreciate how much manatee rescue work has evolved during her lifetime. Florida manatees face numerous threats in the wild, and watercraft collisions remain one of the most recognizable. Depending on an animal’s condition, rehabilitation can require extensive veterinary treatment, specialized nutrition, around-the-clock monitoring, and months of recovery. Some animals need help learning to eat on their own. Young calves may require bottle feeding and intensive care. Others arrive with wounds or illnesses that require complex treatment. And whenever possible, that work eventually leads to one of the best sights imaginable: a rehabilitated manatee being returned to Florida waters.
Sara couldn’t return to the wild, but she still had purpose throughout her life; by sharing her world with younger rescues, she became part of their stories, too. Some of those calves will eventually grow strong enough to leave SeaWorld and return to the wild, while Sara will remain behind to welcome whoever comes next. It’s difficult to know how many young manatees have found comfort beside her during four decades at SeaWorld, but each one adds another small chapter to Sara’s remarkable story.
We at Behind The Splash want to recognize not only Sara, but also the amazing people who have kept her happy and comfortable all these years. She is a most cherished soul, and we hope she enjoyed her special cake!
