Stubby, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's permanent resident manatee, greets new calves over the weekend. Photo courtesy of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
👋 Say hello to Lizzo, Cardi-Tee, MaryKate and Ashley.
What's happening: The Columbus Zoo welcomed four rescued manatee calves from SeaWorld over the weekend. It now houses nine manatees, its most ever.
- The newbies join four other rehabbing calves and Stubby, a surrogate mother with health issues who lives at the zoo permanently.
Why it matters: Manatees face increasing threats in their native Florida habitats, especially boat strikes and loss of their main food source, Axios Tampa Bay reports.
- The zoo's calves are orphans and will be released back into the wild once they've grown bigger and stronger.
💠Alissa's thought bubble: Serious kudos to whoever comes up with these names.
- Have these celebrity sea cows met SwimShady from the Cincinnati Zoo?
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