Surrogate Manatee Mom, Who Has Helped Dozens of Baby Manatees, Is Caring for 2 More on Mother's Day

• Stubby the manatee arrived at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio in 2005 after colliding with a boat and is unable to return to the wild
• Since arriving at the zoo, Stubby has helped care for dozens of orphaned baby manatees who have come to the facility to recover from injuries.
• A surrogate manatee mom will spend Mother’s Day watching two manatee calves at the zoo

Stubby the sea cow is a mom to many.

The female manatee resides at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and is known as the “Columbus Zoo Aquatic Queen,” according to the Ohio facility. Stubby earned this title by helping the zoo care for dozens of baby manatees who come to the park to recover from injury.

Stubby herself is familiar with the recovery process. She arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2005 after a boat strike that took away 70 percent of her paddle-shaped tail.

Stubby has recovered from this incident, but a return to the wild is not safe for the manatee due to her permanent injuries. Every five years, Stubby is evaluated to see if she is ready to return to Florida waters, but zoo officials believe the marine mammal’s condition is unlikely to change. So Stubby stayed at the Columbus Zoo and devoted her time to helping other manatees.

Through its affiliation with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), the Columbus Zoo is the second phase of rehabilitation for the injured manatees. It provides animals with a temporary home and professional care while they recover.

Stubby the manatee at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio.

Grahm S. Jones/Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

When a young orphaned manatee enters the Manatee Shores habitat in the zoo’s Shores and Aquarium region, Stubby serves as the “official greeter,” showing the baby manatee around its new temporary home and providing the tiny animal with attention and support.

Stubby’s efforts are helping orphaned manatees learn how to survive on their own. Calves are often returned to the wild after spending time with their surrogate manatee mother. Stubby has helped dozens of young manatees during her two decades at the zoo.

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“She is the matriarch of the Manatee Coast and makes our job easier with the excellent guidance she provides for raising other manatees,” said Columbus Zoo Manatee Keeper Dan Nellis.

“Stubby shows the newbies the ropes,” Nellis added. “It pushes them to the surface to breathe and guides them through the main aquarium. It helps them find food and is there to snuggle when needed.”

Stubby with baby manatees Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk.

Grahm S. Jones/Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Due to Stubby’s penchant for helping every orphaned manatee that swims into the Columbus Zoo, she rarely spends Mother’s Day alone, and this year is no different. Stubby will spend Mother’s Day 2024 with Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk, two young male manatees who arrived at the zoo in the fall from Charlotte County, Florida.

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“Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk are kind of shy,” said Becky Ellsworth, curator of the Columbus Zoo’s Shores and Aquarium. “They look up to Stubby, eating when she eats and resting when she rests. They’re learning a routine and will soon be big, strong, confident males.”

According to the zoo, Mr. Dobak and Nighthawk are expected to return to Florida in the future to live out their lives as wild animals. While some animal lovers fear this goodbye could upset Stubby, keepers say the manatee’s surrogate mom will likely feel the opposite.

Stubby helps a young manatee at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Grahm S. Jones/Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

“When the orphans leave, they’re ready — and that’s how Stubby is,” Ellsworth said. “As soon as the older manatees leave, the new ones come in and Stubby is ready to do her part again. She’s never been trained to do this – she’s doing this all by herself.”

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“As much as our care team does for these precious babies in need of rehabilitation, Stubby does an incredible job of setting them up for success in a way that only another manatee can. On Mother’s Day — and every day — we are more than grateful for her care , selfless nature,” she added.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education