Four manatees that were rescued by SeaWorld Orlando in 2013 and 2014 have been returned to the wild.
Sea World says the manatees, Carmine, Leonard, Sheldon and Bernadette, were returned near the warm water outfall of the Port St. John power plant in Brevard County which will provide them with warmth during the current cold snap.
The manatees were brought in after being rescued for various reasons and were rehabilitated for years at SeaWorld Orlando.
- Carmine and Leonard, two male manatees, were rescued as orphaned calves in 2013.
- Sheldon and Bernadette were both rescued from Mill Cove, just outside of Jacksonville, due to cold stress in December of 2014.
SeaWorld Orlando says it continues to work closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to determine when a manatee is ready to be returned as well as the proper time and location for the return to take place.