The bishop museum of science and nature, INC , has participated in the manatee rehabilitation network since 1998 and commits significant resources annually to staffing, facilities care, equipment,…

The bishop museum of science and nature, INC , has participated in the manatee rehabilitation network since 1998 and commits significant resources annually to staffing, facilities care, equipment, medical care and food for rehabilitating manatees the museum is a stage 2 manatee rehabilitation facility where manatees come after their critical care needs have been met at one of florida s 3 manatee hospitals our role is to care for and prepare them for release, helping young manatees grow or adult manatees recover from injury or illness before release this clears space at the hospitals for manatees in need of acute care at facilities that are often operating at full capacity, which is especially important due to the unusual mortality event affecting manatees on the atlantic coast the museum is the only stage 2 rehabilitation facility on florida s west coast the bishop is permitted for critical care, holding, verification and transport the museum s animal care team consists of 3 full time and 3 part time staff and contract veterinary services the museum was among the founding partners of the manatee rescue and rehabilitation partnership MRP in 2001 the MRP is the cooperative group of non profit, private, state, and federal entities with a stake in tracking the post release fate of rehabilitated manatees in the wild the partners work together to determine practices and guidelines for manatee care, health standards, release plans and post release monitoring this funding request is primarily to support post release monitoring of survival for manatees released from rehabilitation through tracking, veterinary care and nutrition post release monitoring of NAI?VE animals that may need assistance as they RE adjust to the wild allows timely intervention and lessens risk for the manatees monitoring is done through the use of satellite tracking and visual observations the bishop is requesting funding for 3 satellite linked transmitters and financial support for post release monitoring provided through the MRP the attending veterinarian is a key participant in all stages of rehabilitation, release and post release monitoring, so thorough involvement in the MRP is crucial to successful post release monitoring IT is essential that the attending veterinarian perform pre release lab work, visit monthly and participate in all health assessments, transports and releases to provide the best preparation possible for successful release and to make sure post release monitoring is as thorough and effective as possible monthly veterinary visits allow for scheduled, in person opportunities to view animals, discuss animal welfare and best practices, and discuss release timeframes and readiness the museum s veterinarian, david murphy, DVM, is one of the most experienced manatee veterinarians in the country USFWS and FWC have noted that animal care director virginia edmonds and attending veterinarian DR murphy have unique expertise and experience rehabilitating manatee calves, most of which are monitored post release the agencies have asked them to share their expertise regarding calves and help train mentor others MRP committee participation is a major part of that process DR murphy is a member of the veterinary working group, release committee and new member committee MS edmonds is a member of the release, rescue and rehabilitation and steering committees and CO chairs the contingency working group funding is requested to support 10 of the animal care staff time spent in year 1 and 15 in year 2 caring for manatees, preparing for and releasing manatees, transporting manatees, and creating and delivering educational presentations to museum visitors, for the museum s social media program and through the mass media with a significant portion of revenue coming from attendance, the museum has been greatly affected by the pandemic