Two manatees calves on mend at SeaWorld

Two orphaned baby manatees — one from Brevard County — are healing this week in a SeaWorld rehabilitation tank in Orlando.

The Brevard baby manatee keeps afloat in a custom-fitted life vest with a foam flotation device.

During the past week, the SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team has been caring for the two rescued manatees, both brought to SeaWorld's rehabilitation facility after being rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The calves were seen by local residents who said the manatees appeared lethargic and were swimming alone, according to SeaWorld officials.

The Brevard manatee, found floating on its side, was rescued July 7, from Merritt Island. Rescuers transported the animal to SeaWorld for treatment, which included administering fluids and antibiotics.

To help the young manatee stay afloat, SeaWorld staff used a custom-fitted infant life vest with a foam flotation device. The vest has enabled the manatee to stay upright.

Rescuers found the second manatee calf Monday, emaciated and alone in Palm Coast. The 3-foot-long male manatee is believed to be about a month old and weighs 47 pounds.

Spotters counted a record 6,063 manatees in Florida this past winter. The statewide manatee count in February topped the previous record, set in 2010, by almost 1,000 manatees, according to preliminary data from FWC.

Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the agency would move forward on a status review for the manatee, in response to a 2012 petition to reclassify the species, from "endangered" to "threatened."

Contact waymer at 321-242-3663 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @JwayEnviro

If you see an injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

2015 Manatee deaths in Brevard County (through June 26), by cause

•Watercraft — 7

•Floodgate/canal lock —0

•Other human — 2

•Perinatal — 18

•Cold stress — 4

•Natural — 3

•Undetermined — 22

•Unrecovered — 7

Total — 63

According to a FLORIDA TODAY analysis of state data, since 1974, at least 2,137 manatees that have died in Brevard, 331 of them from watercraft strikes, or 15 percent. That's an average of 8 manatees per year. But in the last 20 years, since data gathering methods have improved, Brevard averaged 10 manatee deaths per year from boat strikes.