Storm Drain Manatee Melby Returns to Wild After Rehab

In early February 2026, a young manatee named Melby was rescued from a Melbourne, Florida, storm drain after getting trapped while searching for warm water during a brutal cold snap. After two months of rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando, where he gained over 100 pounds, Melby returned to the wild on April 7, 2026. Watch as the community gathers to witness his release and hear from the rescue team about how cold stress threatens manatees.