Two juvenile manatees named Axle and Gilbert are settling into Clearwater Marine Aquarium after its manatee rehabilitation center reopened to the public Wednesday, Sept. 30.

The Dr. James "Buddy" Powell Manatee Rehabilitation Center had been without manatee patients since February, when its previous residents, Orchid and Vora, were released in the facility's first successful wild release Feb. 17. The Sept. 30 reopening drew visitors including Grace Kohtz, who saw a manatee in person for the first time.

"They're a lot bigger than you think they'd be and their faces; they kind of look like pugs," Kohtz told WFLA.

Both male manatees are about 2 years old. Gilbert was rescued Jan. 2 in Sun Springs as an emaciated orphan calf with a low body temperature. Axle was rescued from shallow water in Venice on Feb. 21 after suffering from cold stress.

Both received critical care at ZooTampa before being transported to CMA on Sept. 23, according to the aquarium's website.

Young manatees continue rehabilitation

Tanya Ward, CMA's manatee rehabilitation manager, said the first two years calves spend with their mothers are crucial. During that time, they learn to navigate waterways, find food and locate warm-water areas during winter.

Ward told WFLA that cold stress in manatees can present with pneumonia and compared the condition to hypothermia in humans.

CMA serves as a second-stage rehabilitation facility within the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, or MRP. The aquarium takes in manatees that no longer need critical care but still need additional time to recover or grow before returning to the wild.

Staff expect Axle and Gilbert to remain at CMA through the coming months, with an anticipated release into the wild in early 2027.

Center recovered from hurricane damage

The center's path back has not been simple. Hurricane Helene pushed more than 4 feet of water into CMA in September 2024, knocking out power and damaging life-support systems and other equipment.

The manatee facility reopened in November 2025 after more than a year of repairs following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Orchid and Vora arrived that month and became the first manatee patients successfully released from the Dr. James "Buddy" Powell Manatee Rehabilitation Center when they returned to the wild Feb. 17.

Visitors can watch Axle and Gilbert through underwater viewing windows at the rehabilitation center, located at 249 Windward Passage. The aquarium asks guests to maintain a quiet atmosphere and refrain from using flash photography.

Manatees can consume 10% to 20% of their body weight each day, depending on their age and size. At CMA, patients are fed fresh romaine, endive and escarole.

Aquarium urges boaters to watch for manatees

Ward urged boaters to slow down around manatees and watch carefully for the animals in the water. CMA recommends that boaters wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare and make marine animals easier to spot, designate someone aboard to watch for wildlife and follow slow-speed and no-wake zones.

Fishing gear also poses a threat to manatees through entanglement and ingestion.

Residents who spot a sick, injured or distressed manatee can call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. In the Tampa Bay area, CMA's 24-hour rescue hotline is 727-441-1790, ext. 1.

Upcoming in Clearwater: The city's free Boo Bash and Turkey Trot registration are open for fall. Pinellas beach parking and boat pass rates rise Oct. 1.