The manatee rehab team at Lowry Park Zoo will release “Frieda Gates,” an adult female manatee, into Charlotte County waters today.
The then-1,100-pound manatee was rescued May 12 with a severely lacerated tail injury from a boat propeller collision. After three months of rehab, the Zoo’s team says the manatee made tremendous progress — her open wounds have healed to the extent possible, and she has demonstrated the ability to navigate a deep water pool with the portion of her tail that was saved. She has also grown to over 1,300 pounds
