Name:Ariel

First Identified: Dec. 25, 1973

Mother:Amanda

Sex:Female

Adopted by Ship Shape Clothing™ on 3/2006

Ariel was rescued with her mother, Amanda, on Christmas Day, 1973, at Lake Worth Inlet in Florida. Amanda had been badly injured by a motorboat; Ariel only two weeks at the time, was with her. Miami Seaquarium staff rescued Amanda and Ariel and they lived there until July 14, 1986, when they both moved to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. They still live at the park, and the family now includes Ariel's younger sister, Betsey. Ariel herself has three calves! A male called Sunrise was her first born in 1982 and was eventually released into the wild. Her second son, Stormy, born in 1985 now lives at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa Florida. Ariel's third son (phew) called Doc was born in 1992 and released into the wild in 1997.

Ariel the Manatee!

Ariel is a curious and playful manatee. Once, when a park visitor's shoe fell into the water, she was the first on the scene to investigate it by playing and pushing it around. She really enjoys attending the daily manatee education programs and is usually right on time, she will hold her head high above the water and wiggle her top lip into a smile!

Ariel is known as the "big and gentle lady" she is a big manatee indeed, weighing almost as much as her mama, Amanda, at 2500 lbs! Ariel is a social manatee and likes to interact with the wild manatees who come up on the other side of the long river bridge. Since she is a captive manatee she is seperated from the wild ones by a series of narrowly spaced bars. When it comes to napping, she is a pro! Her favorite spot is in the "salad bar" feeding area which was installed with the support of the Save the Manatee Club!

Manatees in the Save the Manatee Club's Adopt-a-Manatee program at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park were either born in captivity or were injured or orphaned in the wild. At present, the manatees at HSWSP are not considered releasable. The Giant Fish Bowl Spring where they live is the headwater for the Homosassa River, an important habitat for manatees.

Thank you for your support! Please visit www.SaveTheManatee.org for more information.

Name: Margarito

First Identified: Nov. 24th, 1984

Mother: Lily (We adopted her also, see below)

Sex: Male

Adopted by Ship Shape Clothing™ on 8/2005

Margarito was brought to Blue Spring State Park by his mother, Lily, on November 24, 1984. (Lily has also been adopted by Ship Shape Clothing™) At the time, it was estimated that Margarito was approximately five to six months old. Researchers at the park did not enter the manatee sanctuary in order to accurately measure him or to gather information, as they did not want to make Lily uneasy. Instead, they sat in a canoe near the area and observed him for several days with binoculars.

Margarito the Manatee!

By the following winter season, Margarito was weaned and on his own. He has returned to Blue Spring every winter since. He is known for being a very curious, friendly, and social manatee. He is often in the company of other manatees. Margarito is most often seen with fellow adoptee Brutus; they frequently have traveled in and out for the season together. He has also been known to hang out with adoptees Howie, Lenny, Flash, Floyd, Merlin, and Doc. He likes to investigate the research canoe when the rangers do their morning manatee count and identification and will often come by the canoe to say "Hi" with a gentle bump. During one very sad occurrence, Margarito came to accompany Ranger Wayne Hartley when a manatee was found dead just south of the park one year. Ranger Wayne went out to identify the manatee and Margarito followed him to the site and stayed with him the entire time.

Margarito can be identified by a number of scar markings from boat hits, and from his missing right flipper. Margarito's flipper was badly entangled in fishing line in 1996. Rescuers from Sea World Orlando were able to remove the line, and they took him to Sea World for treatment before releasing him. Margarito did eventually lose his flipper, though he remains able to get around on his own. Monofilament line discarded in waterways is very dangerous to manatees. It can be fatal if accidentally ingested. It can also wrap around flippers and other body parts and cause severe damage

Blue Springs State Park is near Orange City, Florida about 40 minutes northeast of Orlando. The spring's water naturally maintains a year-round temperature of 72 degrees and is an attractive winter refuge for manatees who seek this warm water when the surrounding waterway temperatures become too cold for them to tolerate.

Thank you for your support! Please visit www.SaveTheManatee.org for more information.

Name: Lily

First Identified: 1974

Mother: Unknown

Sex: Female

Adopted by Ship Shape Clothing™ on 4/2005

Lily is one of the few adult female manatees who return to Blue Spring State Park every year. She is also a favorite among the park rangers there, and they watch for her each year. Lily is easily identifiable because of a skin fungus she had one year. The fungus growth was quite bad, and seemed very painful to Lily at the time. A rescue was contemplated but veterinarians from Sea World Orlando came to look at her and said not much could be done; the fungus would have to take its course. By the time Lily came in for next years winter season, she had fought all odds and the fungus had healed! She was fat and sassy and well recovered. The fungus did leave distinctive white marks on her tail and sides though, for character!

Lily the Manatee!

Lily has been a mother eight times! Her sons and daughters include: Luther, Margarito, Lillith, Loomis, Cowabunga, Chase, Lars, and Louie. Lily is also a grandmother, as her daughter Lillith has had calves of her own. Please note that of all Lily's children and grandchildren, only her son, Margarito, is currently in the Save the Manatee Club adoption program.

One year Lily and her youngest, Louie, had some excitement! They were both accidentally captured when another manatee, Jessie, needed to have her injured flipper treated. Lily was not thrilled at being caught and for a time was shy of the park rangers, but she soon forgave them.

Lily is often in the company of her calves and grand calves. She has, on occasion, acted as a surrogate mother for other calves. Female manatees will often nurse the calves of other mothers in addition to their own. Lily is very social, enjoying the company of many of the manatees wintering at the park, and has been spotted playing and relaxing with other adoptees such as Dana, Philip, Phyllis, Lucille, and Floyd.

Blue Spring State Park is near Orange City, Florida about 40 minutes northeast of Orlando. The spring's water naturally maintains a year-round temperature of 72 degrees and is an attractive winter refuge for manatees who seek this warm water when the surrounding waterway temperatures become too cold for them to tolerate.

LILY UPDATE! 6/1/05: Lily made it out to Blue Springs for Manatee Season 2005. She was last seen with one of her steady companions, Merlin, on March 20. But it wasn't just Merlin that she ended up departing with; she adopted a yearling! Although the young manatee could not be identified, the fosterling was still nursing as he left with her, and hopefully will return again next year.

Thank you for your support! Please visit www.SaveTheManatee.org for more information.