Pregnant Manatee Rescued Off Cape Cod Released In Florida Waters

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) — A new manatee family could be coming somewhere in Florida.

A pregnant manatee rescued from the waters off Cape Cod in September has been released back into the wild off the coast of Florida.

The nearly 900-pound marine mammal dubbed Washburn was fitted with a tracking transmitter before she was released Tuesday into the Indian River in Oak Hill.

The manatee was rescued off Washburn Island in Falmouth by the International Fund for Animal Welfare on Sept. 22. The group said it was concerned that the northern waters would soon be too cold for her to survive.

She was taken to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut where she underwent nearly a month of rehabilitation before being flown in mid-October to SeaWorld Orlando.

SeaWorld veterinarian Lara Croft said Washburn appeared healthy and calm when she was released.

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