KEY LARGO, Fla. — A rehabilitated manatee mother and her calf were successfully released into the wild on Wednesday.

Officials with the Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team announced that the momma manatee and her calf were released at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida.

It was done in partnership with SeaWorld Orlando and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“Successful release days are joyful days,” said Allie Proskovec, Director of Media and Marketing at Dolphin Research Center. “They represent countless hours of dedication, collaboration, and compassion from every organization involved.”

According to DRC, the mother, named Stripes, and her calf, Argyle, were initially rescued after Stripes was found suffering from a severe fishing line entanglement around her flippers.

After receiving emergency treatment by the DRC, officials with the FWC transported the mother and calf to SeaWorld in Orlando.

While there, they received specialized care and rehabilitation services from experienced professionals and, after several months of treatment, monitoring, and recovery, both Stripes and Argyle were given clean bills of health and were set for release back into their natural habitat.

“Seeing Stripes and Argyle return to the wild together is the best possible outcome,” said Proskovec. “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.”

Manatee mother, calf released back into wild after treatment by Dolphin Research Center, FWC

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David Dwork