Watch CBS News

Pilgrim Settling In South Florida Waters Again

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A manatee found injured in 2012 and received help at the Miami Seaquarium was released back into the wild Thursday.

Manatee Pilgrim was satellite tagged and will be monitored by Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership biologists.

Pilgrim was rescued in the Florida Keys in November of 2012.

At the time, he was extremely buoyant and doctors learned he had a pneumothorax condition known as a "folded" lung.

Pilgrim-Lung-x-ray
An x-ray showing manatee Pilgrim's "folded" lung. Source: Miami Seaquarium

When rescued, Pilgrim weighed just 200 pounds, but after more than a year of care, he now weighs  more than 640 pounds.

Read more about Pilgrim's rescue.

He will be released in his native waters off of Key Largo where he was found sometime this week.

The public can track Pilgrim by clicking here.

If a manatee is observed in distress or a dead manatee is sighted, contact the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.