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Columbus Manatees Could Be Released Into the Wild

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has sent two more rescued manatees back to Florida where they hopefully can be released into the wild this year.

Agua and Goober, a female and male, arrived at SeaWorld Orlando late Monday.

The manatees were in poor condition when they were rescued in Florida waters. They began their rehabilitation back to health in Columbus. SeaWorld will complete the preparations needed to reintroduce them to the wild.

Twin manatees Millennium and Falcon moved from the Columbus Zoo to Miami Seaquarium in September and are to return soon to the Florida Keys area where they were found.

The Columbus Zoo has rehabbed about 30 manatees since 2001.

The federal government has declared Florida manatee populations threatened by natural and man-made hazards.