The last two years have been devastating for Florida manatees.

In 2021, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 1,101 manatees died, with a large percentage of them dying in Brevard county where an unusual mortality event has been declared. As of March 4 this year, 400 manatees have already been reported dead.

In an effort to bring those numbers down, workers at SeaWorld Orlando have constructed four emergency pools to allow them to treat more sick and injured manatees.

It is a crisis that has researchers concerned and rescuers working in overtime to prevent these numbers from climbing.  

For Maggie Mariolis, it has been a lifelong dream to work with manatees at SeaWorld Orlando — a dream she’s been living for the last 20 years as a senior animal care specialist.

“When I was 4 years old, I got to visit SeaWorld as a guest and I was hooked — from that day I knew I was going to work here and take care of the animals,” said Mariolis. “And Once I met my first manatee, it was love at first sight. I have been doing it ever since”

These days, she's working harder than ever, conducting pre-ship physicals on manatees that are healthy enough to move to other facilities but not ready to go back into the wild. Finding new homes for the animals is necessary because SeaWorld has taken in so many critical-care manateees this winter, that the park is simply running out of space and resources.

“Knowing these animals have been suffering for a long period of time, it really tugs at your heartstrings,”  said Mariolis.

Her team is not only treating manattees for the typical boat strike and cold stress injuries they see every year, now they’re also dealing with starving manatees, rescued from the record breaking unusual mortality event happening in the Indian River Lagoon.

“She has to gain at least another 400 pounds which could take a couple of years, so moving her to one of our partner facilities will open up some space here at SeaWorld while giving her the time she needs to grow,” said Mariolis of one animal.

Space is what they desperately need, with many manatees flagged as needing rescue still living in the wild. That is why crews at SeaWorld have worked around the clock the last few weeks to build four emergency pools.

“For me it is a double edge sword," said Mariolis. "On one hand, it is very sad that this has to happen — I never thought in my career that we would be asked to do something at this level.

"But on the other hand, being able to really, truly make a difference in this species, and whether they potentially become endangered again or not, then that is a great thing.” 

Mariolis said she is ready to take on the extra work this will bring, knowing what is at stake. SeaWorld Orlando is now the only place left in the country that can take in and treat critical manatees. Despite the dire circumstances, Mariolis is hopeful that the marine mammals she’s loved ever since she was a little girl will pull through.

“I am cautiously optimistic,” she said.  “At the beginning of the unusual mortality event, the animals coming in were extremely emaciated and very thin. The animals that are coming in now seem to be in a little bit better body condition — they still have a lot of issues, a lot of issues and it is going to take time to get them back to full health, but it gives me a glimmer of hope.”

Mariolis said that SeaWorld is looking at bringing in animal care specialists from some of its other facilities to help with the increase of manatees in their care.

According to the FWC, about a dozen manatees are being monitored right now as possible rescues. Officials say they rely on help from the public to report sightings of distressed manatees.

They ask anyone who sees an injured or lethargic manatee to call the wildlife alert hotline at 888-404-3922.