ST. PETERSBURG, FL, May 16, 2007 - Wildlife Trust scientists and their colleagues in the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) are proud to announce that Mo, the much released manatee, having proven his ability to stay healthy and out of trouble, is no longer in need of monitoring. Wildlife Trust scientist, Lucy Keith removed Mo's tracking tags while he fed on a grassflat near the TECO power plant in Tampa Bay, thus ending a lengthy and enlightening relationship with the manatee that couldn't seem to find his way home.

Mo was first rescued on August 28, 1994, on the Withlacoochee River in Citrus County, FL. The orphaned calf was taken by scientists to Sea World in Orlando to begin rehabilitation. Mo was released into the wild in April of 1998 at Crystal River, but did not stay there for long. In June of that same year, Mo was re-rescued by Sea World, south of Key West in the Dry Tortugas. Scientists considered Mo to be disoriented, as there is neither a permanent manatee population nor food in the Dry Tortugas, so he was returned to captivity. There he stayed for several years, first at Sea World, then in Lowy Park Zoo in Tampa, and finally in the South Florida Museum in Bradenton. At that point, Mo was tagged and again released at Crystal River in February of 2002.

Mo's freedom was, unfortunately, short-lived. After a period of almost one year, Mo was not able to maintain a healthy weight and was rescued - for a third time - from the Hillsborough River in Tampa. Although he had stayed in the appropriate areas, moving and feeding with other manatees, he had not learned to eat native vegetation and so was unsuccessful at feeding in the wild. This time Mo was taken to Lowry Park Zoo, South Florida Museum and then to Miami Seaqurium. Staff at these facilities began introducing aquatic vegetation collected from the wild to Mo, hoping that he would learn to eat sea grasses. In addition, Mo was kept in a saltwater pool, both measures that Mo had not been exposed to in his previous rehabilitations.

Mo was released for the third time in September, 2005, at Crystal River, and exhibited good feeding and boat avoidance behavior. In August, 2006, he received his final health assessment in Tampa Bay, but scientists decided to keep an eye on him through one more winter. Once they were satisfied that Mo was in good shape, they decided to release him in full and removed his tags.

The MRP continually works to refine their rehabilitation techniques to ensure that manatees have the best preparation possible to survive in the wild. While Mo's trials were at times strenuous, they did allow MRP scientists to consider new methods, including the introduction of wild sea grasses to captive manatees' diets. Mo also made the scientists aware that some manatees may need multiple rehabilitation efforts before they are fully able to re-acclimate to the wild. His success is due to the hard work of many people and their willingness to try and try again, until they - and Mo - got it right.

The MRP is a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities with a stake in tracking the post-release fate of rehabilitated manatees in the wild. Partners include:

• Caribbean Stranding Network
• Cincinnati Zoo
• Columbus Zoo
• Disney's Living Seas
• Dolphin Research Center
• Florida Wildlife Research Institute
• Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
• Lowry Park Zoo
• Miami Seaquarium
• Mote Marine Laboratory
• Save The Manatee Club
• SeaWorld of California
• SeaWorld of Florida
• South Florida Museum
• University of Florida
• USGS Sirenia Project
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Wildlife Trust

About Wildlife Trust

Wildlife Trust empowers local conservation scientists worldwide to protect nature and safeguard ecosystem and human health. Wildlife Trust is a conservation science innovator and leverages research expertise through strategic global alliances. Wildlife Trust pioneered the field of Conservation Medicine, a new discipline that addresses the link between ecological disruption of habitats and the effects on wildlife, livestock and human health.

Founded in 1971 by British naturalist and author Gerald Durrell, Wildlife Trust has built its reputation on 35 years of global research, education, training and experience. Research and conservation work in the United States include programs in the metropolitan New York area, Florida and along the coast of the Southeastern U.S.

Internationally, Wildlife Trust trains and supports a network of scientists around the world to save endangered species and their habitats and to protect the health of vital ecosystems. Wildlife Trust created the first egalitarian international network of science-based conservation organizations called the Wildlife Trust Alliance and is a founding partner organization of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, a unique think-tank of prestigious academic institutions.

Visit www.wildlifetrust.org to read more.

Media Contact:
Anthony Ramos, Wildlife Trust
Director for Marketing & Communications
ramos@wildlifetrust.org
212/380-4469

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