Four female manatees have returned to the open waters after being treated for months at SeaWorld Orlando.
The sub-adult manatees were successfully returned Thursday morning to Eddy Creek in Brevard County, SeaWorld Orlando said.
Pipsqueak, Nitty and Braille were rescued in December from the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge after getting caught in a mosquito impoundment. While at SeaWorld, they were treated for mild cold stress.
Alaska, the smallest of the four manatees, was brought to SeaWorld Orlando in March. She was found by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission floating high in the Indian River Lagoon in Merritt Island. She was suffering from buoyancy issues and was taken to SeaWorld, the company said.
Nitty, the largest manatee, weighed 380 pounds when she was rescued, and totaled 775 pounds when released, SeaWorld Orlando tweeted Thursday.
All four manatees were medically cleared before the release.
SeaWorld Orlando has released seven manatees this year, including the four released Thursday, and has rescued 13.
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