CLEARWATER -- A facility formerly used to house Winter the dolphin will now be a rehabilitation center for injured and sick manatees.
This past week, Clearwater Marine Aquarium unveiled plans to transform what had been the Winter Zone into a habitat to rehabilitate manatees for release. The cost is estimated at nearly $10 million, and CMA plans to launch a fundraising drive.
Back in July, the aquarium announced it was opening a rehab center at its Fred Howard Park facility this coming winter. It was intended for dolphin rehab, but has been repurposed, like the plans in Clearwater, to help sea cows.
Manatees are currently being affected by an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event on the east coast of Florida. Each year, many suffer boat strikes or get caught in cold water.
CMA has received $95,000 in federal funding for construction.
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Photo: CMA