Clearwater aquarium marks Manatee Awareness Month with rescued pair

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is filling November with manatee-themed events, crafts and a member giveaway built around two rescued juvenile manatees recovering at the facility.

The aquarium's Manatee Awareness Month lineup runs through Nov. 30 and centers on Axle and Gilbert, a pair of roughly 2-year-old manatees housed in the Dr. James "Buddy" Powell Manatee Rehabilitation Center. Both arrived from ZooTampa in late September after receiving critical care there earlier in 2026, according to Tampa Bay 28.

Axle was rescued in the Venice area suffering from cold stress. Gilbert was rescued in Sun Springs as an underweight orphan calf with a low body temperature. The aquarium hopes to release both back into the wild in early 2027.

Tanya Ward, the aquarium's manatee rehabilitation manager, told Tampa Bay 28 that the two arrived after receiving critical care at ZooTampa. Dr. Shelly Marquardt, vice president of animal and environmental health, said the team is focused on giving them "the time and space they need to settle into their new environment" while monitoring their health and progress.

The aquarium is part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), providing second-stage care for manatees recovering from illness and injury before they return to the wild.

What's happening in November

Visitors can see Axle and Gilbert in the rehabilitation center and take part in daily manatee crafts, including rock painting, stickers and glitter tattoos. Manatee pretzels will be available for purchase at the Snack Shack.

The member giveaway is simple. Each visit between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30 earns one entry into a drawing for a CMA Animal Experience. One winner will be selected at the end of the month.

Two special events anchor the middle of the month:

Nov. 12, 12:30 p.m. — A Manatee Awareness Month webinar hosted by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) and the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership. Guests can register online or watch from the Dolphin Tale Theater at the aquarium.
Nov. 13–14 — Fahlo, which sells manatee tracking bracelets, will be on-site at the Rescue Store with giveaways for bracelet purchasers.

Behind the rehab center

The rehabilitation center is named for Dr. James "Buddy" Powell, a manatee researcher who served as the aquarium's chief zoological officer, according to Hoodline. Powell died in July 2025 after more than 50 years of marine conservation work, per CMA.

The facility sustained more than $2.5 million in damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in late 2024, which knocked out its life-support filtration systems and forced the temporary transfer of manatees to ZooTampa, Hoodline reported, citing FOX 13 Tampa Bay. WFLA reported that the center reopened to the public on Sept. 30.

Ward told WFLA that educating the public, especially children, is a priority. She said boaters should take care to avoid hitting manatees, because the animals cannot echolocate like dolphins and often do not detect an approaching boat until it is on top of them.

Residents who spot an injured or stranded manatee can call CMA's 24-hour rescue hotline at 727-441-1790, ext. 1, or the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.