Manatee Stripes and calf Argyle released off Key Largo after entanglement rehabilitation

Stripes, a mother manatee, and her calf Argyle were returned to the waters off Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on January 28, 2026, after months of medical care and rehabilitation. The release was coordinated by the Dolphin Research Center in partnership with SeaWorld Orlando and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and was attended by staffers, volunteers, and a crowd of onlookers.

Rescue teams found Stripes in May 2025 near Key Largo with a fishing line deeply embedded around her pectoral flippers. The Dolphin Research Center stated Stripes was found “suffering from a severe fishing line entanglement around her pectoral flippers.” DRC further reported the female manatee “was in critical condition ‘and required advanced medical care and long-term rehabilitation,’” and the animals were transported by the FWC to SeaWorld Orlando for advanced treatment. Records and organizational statements indicate about eight months of care at SeaWorld before the January release, a timeline that aligns with the May 2025 rescue and the late-January return.

The coordinated effort combined DRC’s manatee rescue team based in Grassy Key, SeaWorld Orlando’s veterinary and rehabilitation capacity, and FWC’s rescue and transport support. Allie Proskovec, director of media and marketing at the Dolphin Research Center, put the moment in perspective: “Successful release days are joyful days.” She added, “Manatees are a threatened species, facing ongoing risks from boat strikes, habitat loss, and entanglement in fishing gear. Today’s release serves as both a celebration and a reminder of the continued need for public awareness and conservation efforts to protect these gentle giants.”

For Monroe County residents and businesses, the event has immediate local significance. Healthy manatee populations support the Keys’ eco-tourism appeal and reinforce the need for careful boating practices in shallow seagrass areas that serve as manatee habitat. The release also underscores the value of coordinated rescue capacity across nonprofit and public organizations; DRC’s rescue team, SeaWorld’s rehabilitation resources, and FWC’s hotline and transport capability combined to return these animals to the wild.

Residents who spot an injured, entangled, or distressed manatee are urged to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-(888) 404-FWCC (3922). Local agencies and rescue groups often follow releases with monitoring when feasible, and the return of Stripes and Argyle offers a tangible example of how reporting, rapid response, and rehabilitation can produce measurable conservation outcomes for the Keys.