About Dex

Gender: Male
Current Tag Id: 208683

Dex was rescued as an orphan calf in Ft. Myers Beach, Lee County, Florida on September 27, 2017. He was 101 centimeters long and weighed 46 pounds at the time of his rescue. Dex was transported to Sea World of Florida for care.  He was released on February 15, 2021, at TECO in Hillsborough County. He was 257 centimeters in length and weighed 605 pounds. He will be monitored by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute

  1. 02/25/2021 12:15 PM

    • Dex has been on a tour of the canal system south of Apollo Beach where he has been observed pacing quite a bit. Today he was in a different canal following a mom/calf pair. They moved out into the shallows of the bay near the channel and started cavorting. The wake of a few passing boats disturbed the ambience and they moved further out. At one point when the research boat was close to them and the larger manatee moved around to the back of the boat and was mouthing at the water discharge. The engine was turned off and she left.  Dex did not participate in the inappropriate behavior and hopefully he finds a better role model. The group remained in the shallows off the channel. Boat traffic picked up and they moved away to a less congested area.

  2. 02/22/2021 08:00 AM

    • Dex was milling in a residential canal in Apollo Beach. He would weave in and out of the dock pilings moving up one side of the canal then back down the other side. He did this several times in a repetitive pattern. From the surface he looked ok, no new cuts, scars or marks.

  3. 02/18/2021 11:00 AM

    • Dex was observed traveling into the TECO canal as Opal was released. He followed her trying to interact. She rebuffed his advances choosing to leave the canal. He turned his attention to some other manatees in the canal. Observation suspended to release another manatee.

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