Jacksonville Zoo Admitted First Rescue Manatee
A manatee named Lorenzo is receiving critical care at the zoo after losing weight in the wild.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Wildlife
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The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens has admitted an ailing manatee named Lorenzo for specialized rehabilitative care. This marks the first time the zoo has directly received a rescued manatee at its new critical care facility.
Why it matters
The rescue decision follows a concerning decline in health, as Lorenzo lost significant weight after his release into the Crystal River earlier this year. Zoo staff are now monitoring his recovery to stabilize his health after his time in the wild.
Lorenzo weighed 612 pounds at his February 2026 release, a substantial increase from his initial 139-pound rescue weight in 2024. The Jacksonville Zoo Critical Care Center now has the capacity to treat 18 manatees at once.
The players
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
A conservation organization that opened a specialized manatee critical care center in 2026.
Lorenzo
A rescued manatee undergoing rehabilitative care after significant weight loss in the wild.
The details
After being transported from the Crystal River, Lorenzo was placed behind the scenes at the Jacksonville facility. Staff will monitor his condition closely before he is introduced to the habitat's other manatees. This center, which opened in 2026, provides a specialized environment designed for rehabilitating animals before they are returned to their natural habitats.
Timeline
November 2024: Lorenzo was initially rescued as an orphaned calf.
February 2026: Lorenzo was released into the Crystal River.
September 2026: Lorenzo arrived at the Jacksonville Zoo for care.
The Home Front
The Jacksonville Zoo's admission of Lorenzo reflects the collaborative efforts of the Florida statewide manatee rescue network. This arrival follows a pattern set by the network's mission to manage long-term rehabilitation for marine wildlife.
While manatee care is managed by professionals, local residents can support conservation by being mindful of posted speed zones in waterways. Reporting injured wildlife to official state authorities remains the most helpful step if you encounter a manatee in distress.
The takeaway
Wildlife rehabilitation requires careful monitoring to ensure that animals successfully transition back to the wild. Residents can support these efforts by staying aware of local marine conservation guidelines and reporting sightings of injured animals to state experts.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to protect area species in the Wildlife section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Florida Times-Union.
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