Ariel's Biography

Water Wide

Ariel was rescued with her mother, Amanda, on Christmas Day, 1973.  Amanda was found injured at Lake Worth Inlet in Florida.  At that time, Ariel was about two weeks old.  She lived in Miami Seaquarium with her mother until July 14, 1986, when they both were transferred to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park in Homosassa, Florida.

While still at the Seaquarium, Ariel gave birth to Sunrise, a male calf, on September 6, 1982.  Sunrise came to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park on August 4, 1984 and was released into the wild with another manatee, Savannah, on March 28, 1986.  The whereabouts of Sunrise and Savannah are not presently known.  Ariel had a second calf, Stormy, on July 22, 1985 at the Seaquarium.  The father is a manatee named Romeo who is still living at the Seaquarium.  After spending a few years with his mother at the park, Stormy was transferred to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida.  In October of 1992, Ariel gave birth to a male calf named Doc.

Ariel is usually predictable in that she likes to occupy the same spot at every manatee education program.  She always lifts her head high out of the water to smile at Ranger Dearth and the visitors.

1998 - 1999:  In July 1998, the manatees at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park were taken out of the water for their annual physicals.  Ariel decided she would not take part in this even and very cleverly avoided being "captured".  (Oh well, better luck next time!)  One event Ariel won't miss, however, are the manatee education programs, which are put on daily at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park.  Ariel is usually always right on time.  Should she "run late" and end up in the back behind the other manatees, Ariel has her own special way of letting Ranger Betsy know she has arrived...she simply raises her head out of the water, gives Ranger Betsy a big smile, and wiggles her top lip!  Ariel is growing like a "sea-weed" and is now almost as big as her mom, Amanda.  (If you remember, Ariel was just a baby when she was rescued with Amanda who was badly injured back in December of 1973).  We can almost hear Amanda sighing, "They get big sooooo fast..."

1997 - 1998:  Like mother, like daughter, Ariel never misses an opportunity to participate in the education programs given at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park.  Her mother, Amanda, is always a willing participant too.  Ariel seems to have the schedule down pat, as she is usually right on time.  Ranger Dearth says that Ariel is doing great, although she does have a wart-like area below her nostrils.  However, it is nothing to worry about.  When Ariel isn't "hamming it up" for park visitors, she can usually be found hanging out by the long river bridge.  Manatees who live in the wild come up on the other side of the bridge.  We just bet Ariel goes there to keep up with the latest manatee gossip!

1996 - 1997:  Ariel, the show girl, has taken to putting her head out of the water and "smiling at the crowd" during programs.  She just sticks her head way out of the water and seems to give the audience a big smile.  In fact, Ranger Dearth says Ariel outshines both of her sisters, Betsy and Star, and she has gained the reputation of being the best at demonstrating how manatees can use their prehensile top lip.  Ariel's son, Doc, and another captive-born manatee, Dakota, were released on August 20, 1997 in Biscayne Bay near Miami, FL.  Doc was released previously in 1992, but did not adapt well and had to be returned to captivity.  Doc and Dakota were prepared for this release by continued exposure to sea grass in their diet.  Both manatees were fitted at the release site with satellite-monitored transmitters and are being tracked by the Sirenia Project, a federal research agency located in Gainesville, FL.  

1995 - 1996:  Ranger Betsy Dearth reports that people are always asking at the manatee education programs if Ariel is pregnant --- she's that fat.  Ranger Dearth replies that Ariel just "never regained her girlish figure" after giving birth to her three calves.  Her mother, Amanda, has been a real "ham" at the programs this year.  She seems to delight in splashing everyone with water.  Ariel is more courteous than her mother --- sort of.  She doesn't splash water, but instead will hold her head above the water with her mouth wide open!

1994 -1995:  Ariel has turned into the ideal manatee model for the rangers at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park.  When one of the park rangers is presenting the manatee education program, Ariel raises herself out of the water, permitting the ranger to give the visitors a lesson in manatee anatomy.  Doc, Ariel's youngest calf, born in October 1992, was transferred to the Merritt Island Staging Area in June.  He was joined by Newbob and Dakota, two young male manatees who have been in captivity since they were orphaned as calves.  Newbob and Doc are about the same age and "grew up" together at Homosassa Springs.  Unfortunately, all three manatees did not adapt well to their new environment, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided against releasing any of them to the wild at this time.  Doc and Dakota were sent to Sea World in Orlando, while Newbob was returned to Lowry Park Zoo.

1993 - 1994:  Doc, Ariel's calf is growing fast.  He was seen this year swimming with Andrea, a calf that was at the park with her mother Naples (Naples was rescued after being injured in a boating accident).  Ariel is being a very good mother to Doc, but she does have plenty of helpers.  Rosie is his "auntie," of course!  Ariel frequently comes to the manatee information programs at the park with her mother Amanda.  The rangers say she likes to show visitors her lack of teeth in the front of her mouth!  Around the park, Ariel is known as the "big, gentle lady.:  She and her sister Betsy are courteous and observant at the programs.  Ariel frequently puts her head above the water in order to watch the rangers.

1992 - 1993:  In October, a small group of employees, two park veterinarians, several volunteers, and a few park visitors watched with amazement as Ariel gave birth to a male calf!  The calf emerged nose first and swam quickly to the water's surface for its first breath.  Veterinarian Mark Lowe and Ray Ball stayed through the night monitoring respiration and nursing.  Tom Linley, park manager at Homosassa Springs, announced the new baby manatee's name as "Doc," after Dr. Mark Lowe who has contributed hundreds of hours of volunteer time caring for the park's manatees.    In March, Florida experienced the "Storm of the Century" which pounded the west coat of Florida and flooded the park.  The park sustained considerable damage, but not to worry!  Ariel and Doc came through it without any problems.  Rosie, another adoptee, has been spending a lot of time babysitting Doc, and he seems to like being with "Aunt Rosie" too.  As for Ariel, she is a good mother and usually comes to the manatee programs at the park.

1991 - 1992:  Ariel seems to be more like her mother, Amanda, every day.  She loves to attend the programs and seems to be less shy these days.  Ariel is very close to her sisters Star and Betsy.  She regularly swims with her mother and takes care of the younger manatees at the park.

*UPDATE - 

                    Sad news to report.  Star, Ariel's sister passed away on May 31, 2000, at Lowry Park Zoo.  She was just 13 years old.  Her death was sudden and unexpected.  It was determined that she had died from septicemia, a disease caused by infectious microorganisms in the blood.  Star may have had the infection for a long time before she showed any symptoms.  Star was known and loved by people all over the world.  Star got her name because she was born with a star shaped birthmark on her head.

Star

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