Manatee rescued from a storm drain is recovering at SeaWorld
Listen to the story (Irish accent)
A manatee is recovering at SeaWorld Orlando after a rescue in Florida, USA. The animal was stuck in a storm drain. He was looking for warmer water when he got trapped.
Many groups worked together to help the 410-pound (186kg) animal. This included fire rescue teams, wildlife officials, and a local towing service.
The rescue started on Tuesday in Melbourne Beach. A city worker was checking the storm drains when he saw the manatee. The worker found the animal inside a special part of the drain called a baffle box. Rescuers moved the male manatee to SeaWorld for medical care.
Now, the manatee is staying in a medical pool. A spokesperson for SeaWorld said the animal is doing well. He is breathing without help and moving by himself. He is also starting to eat food. The medical team is changing the water levels in the pool to help him float and stay comfortable. The goal of the hospital is to make the manatee healthy again so he can return to the ocean.
Manatees are a protected species in Florida. They have had many problems lately. In 2021, over 1,100 manatees died, mostly because they did not have enough food to eat. However, the situation is getting better. In 2023, there were 555 deaths, and in 2024, there were 565 deaths. Fewer manatees are dying now.
SeaWorld Orlando helps many of these animals every year. Last year, the park rescued 56 manatees. This year, they have already saved seven. Experts watch the manatees closely to keep them safe in the wild.
Vocabulary40 words
- Manatee
- a large, gray animal that lives in the water; a "sea cow"; a gentle water mammal
- Recover
- to get better after being sick or hurt; to become healthy again; to heal
- Rescue
- to save someone from a dangerous place; to help someone in trouble; to take someone to safety
- Stuck
- cannot move; fixed in one place; caught in something
- Storm drain
- a large pipe under the street for rain water; a hole in the road where water goes down 🕳️
- Trapped
- unable to escape; caught; stuck in a place you cannot leave
- Group
- a number of people or things together; a team; a set
- Include
- to have as a part of something; to contain; to put in
- Fire rescue
- a team of firemen who help people and animals in danger; emergency workers 🚒
- Wildlife
- animals that live in nature; animals that are not pets 🦁
- Wildlife official
- a person whose job is to protect nature and animals; a forest or park worker 👮
- Local
- nearby; from the same area or city; not far away
- Towing service
- a business with big trucks that pull cars or heavy things; a wrecker service 🛻
- Check
- to look at something carefully; to examine; to see if something is okay 🔍
- Part
- a piece of something; a section; not the whole thing
- Rescuer
- a person who saves someone from danger; a helper
- Male
- a boy or a man; not female ♂️
- Medical
- relating to doctors, hospitals, or medicine; for health
- Medical care
- help from doctors or nurses; treatment for a sick or hurt person or animal 🩺
- Pool
- a large tank or area filled with water for swimming or washing 🏊
- Spokesperson
- a person who speaks for a group or a company; a person who gives news to the public
- Breathing
- taking air in and out of the body; using the lungs 🌬️
- Level
- how high or low something is; the height of water
- Float
- to stay on top of the water; not sink
- Goal
- something you want to do; a plan; an aim; a target 🎯
- Healthy
- strong and not sick; well; in good shape 💪
- Ocean
- the very large area of salt water; the sea 🌊
- Protected
- kept safe by the law; not allowed to be hurt or hunted 🛡️
- Species
- a specific type of animal or plant (like a manatee or a lion); a group of the same living things 🐾
- Lately
- recently; in the last few days or weeks; not long ago
- Enough
- as much as you need; plenty; sufficient
- Situation
- the way things are at a certain time; the facts of a story; a condition
- Death
- the end of life; when a living thing stops living ⚰️
- Fewer
- a smaller number; not as many 📉
- Park
- a large public area for people or animals; short for “theme park”; a place like SeaWorld 🎢
- Save
- to stop someone from dying or being hurt; to rescue
- Expert
- a person who knows a lot about something; a master; a specialist
- Watch closely
- to look at something very carefully for a long time; to monitor 👀
- Keep safe
- to protect; to make sure nothing bad happens 🔒
- Wild
- nature; a place away from people where animals live freely
Quiz
Answer key
1. Looking for warmer water 2. To return to the wild 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A manatee _____ recovering at SeaWorld Orlando after a rescue in Florida, _____ . The animal was stuck in a storm drain. He was looking for _____ water when he got trapped.
Many groups _____ together to help the 410-pound (186kg) animal. This included fire rescue _____ , wildlife officials, and a local towing _____ .
The rescue started on Tuesday in Melbourne _____ . A city worker was checking the storm drains when _____ saw the manatee. The worker found the animal inside a special _____ of the drain called a baffle box. Rescuers moved the male _____ to SeaWorld for medical care.
Now, the manatee is _____ in a medical pool. A spokesperson for SeaWorld said the animal is _____ well. He is breathing without help and _____ by himself. He is also starting to eat food. The medical team _____ changing the water levels in the pool to _____ him float and stay comfortable. The goal of the hospital is _____ make the manatee healthy again so he can return to the _____ .
Manatees are a protected _____ in Florida. They have had many problems lately. In 2021, over _____ manatees died, mostly because they did not have enough _____ to eat. However, the situation is getting better. In 2023, there were _____ deaths, and in 2024, there were 565 deaths. Fewer manatees are dying _____ .
SeaWorld Orlando helps _____ of these animals every year. Last year, the park rescued _____ manatees. This year, they have already saved seven. _____ watch the manatees closely to keep them safe in the _____ .
Discussion questions
- Why do you think it is important for different groups (like the fire department and wildlife officials) to work together during a rescue?
- In your opinion, should humans spend a lot of money to save just one animal? Why or why not?
- Manatees are "protected species." Are there any animals in your country that are protected by the law?
- Would you like to work as a wildlife rescuer? What do you think would be the hardest part of that job?
- Do you think it is better for sick animals to recover in a place like SeaWorld or stay in nature? Why?
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