I recently returned from a trip to Tampa where I had the opportunity to visit Lowry Park Zoo and our dear friend, Fourby, the manatee.
As many of you will remember, this baby manatee had washed in to our shores almost two years ago as an infant and was presumed orphaned. He was in dire condition needing constant care and feeding that his mother would typically provide. There was a long list of volunteers to assist in his feedings, however, his condition remained critical and required the technical efforts of marine biologists in tube feeding him around the clock.
The majority of volunteers that looked forward to having a hand in his care never got the chance to even visit our little manatee. I was one of the unfortunate and promised myself I would visit and check on Fourby as soon as one of my visits would allow.
One of my dearest friends, Emily, went to high school with me and our children grew up together. She had come to visit me and we decided to make the trip to the zoo together as a part of our reunion. What a wonderful decision that was! Our main goal that day was to be able to visit Fourby. We finally were directed to the manatee hospital where one of the staff members kindly gave us the behind the scenes tour of the hospital. I informed her of the situation, that I was visiting from Grand Cayman where Fourby was discovered and I was on the volunteer list. I had told her that when our government was looking for the proper facility to provide the necessary care that Fourby so desperately needed; I had persisted in suggesting the manatee hospital at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa because it was widely known as the finest manatee hospital in the world.
My knowledge of manatees didn’t come from university courses but through personal and up-close natural encounters from windsurfing and sailing in Tampa Bay and the area where I lived as an adult was a bayou area where manatees were continually residing throughout the year.
That day at the zoo, the wonderful caretakers for Fourby were also attending six other baby manatees. They are in a cluster of holding tanks that interlock and can be used like a canal system allowing for easy maintenance without undue stress to the traumatized babies they contain. All of the manatees in residence are rescued from the wild, rehabilitated then returned to the waters they remember as home.
The holding tanks are the critical care unit of the hospital and most of the six other manatees are much younger than Fourby. However, they are all about the same size. Fourby is approaching two-years old. His weight should be reaching close to 600 pounds; however, he is only 175 pounds. Sadly, he has not progressed from the feeding tube. The staff member I spoke with informed me they have diagnosed him with a neurological disorder that would be akin to autism in human terms. They are hoping he will start to mimic the other babies by taking a bottle then on to the solid foods he should be ingesting on his own. Their drill is once they wean off the tube, they are introduced to the bottle and vegetation is also placed in the tank so their option for solid food is available when they are ready. Nearly at age two, Fourby is still on tube feedings.
He is in wonderful care and everyone is very dedicated to his progress. All his caretakers dearly love him. The staff member assured me after she saw me crying that they would never give up on him or any others. She stated that many times it will take two-four years until any progress can be made, however, she added many times when progress starts, they just as suddenly deteriorate and can die. For that reason, they remain in critical care and are constantly monitored.
Advance notice would allow anyone wishing to visit entrance in the area if the staff members know ahead, they will make sure someone is available to allow the visitation in the critical care unit and give an update on the progress Fourby is making.
If a visit isn’t possible, continual prayers are. So keep them coming for ‘our boy’!
Kathleen E. Bodden-Harris
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