Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
@DolphinResearchCenter wishes all of you a joyful holiday season and our hopes for a wonderful new year. Thank you for your support.
@DolphinResearchCenter wishes all of you a joyful holiday season and our hopes for a wonderful new year. Thank you for your support.

![Manatee Mother and Calf Rescued, Treated, and Released. Manatees Rescued By Dolphin Research Center
[MARATHON, FL] On June 18, 2025, Dolphin Research Center (DRC), the only licensed manatee rescue team in the entire Florida Keys, recently partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to rescue a manatee mother and her calf in Marathon, FL.
The adult female manatee was found with fishing line tightly wrapped around her right pectoral flipper. The line had cut deep into her flesh—more than an inch deep—posing a severe risk to her health. Her calf stayed by her side throughout the rescue.
Dr. Scott Gearhart, Dolphin Research Center’s full-time veterinarian, provided urgent medical treatment, removing the fishing line and treating the wound. Thanks to the rapid response and expert care, both the mother and calf were released back into the wild the same day.
“This incident is a powerful reminder of why it’s critical to always properly dispose of fishing line and gear,” said Dr. Gearhart.
“Entanglement injuries can be life-threatening, and theyre preventable with responsible action from the public.”
Dolphin Research Center’s role as the sole licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys makes their work essential for the region’s wildlife health and safety. The organization encourages anyone who spots a manatee that may be injured, entangled, or in distress to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
The Dolphin Research Center remains committed to protecting marine mammals through rescue, rehabilitation, education, and research.
For more information or to support DRC’s conservation efforts, visit www.dolphins.org Manatee Mother and Calf Rescued, Treated, and Released. Manatees Rescued By Dolphin Research Center](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Kao3Qcmqp1Y/mqdefault.jpg)








