About Viva

Gender: Female
Current Tag Id:

Viva was rescued with Red Tide in Captiva, Lee County, Florida on November 3, 2019. She was 195 centimeters long and 340 pounds at the time of her rescue. She was transported to ZooTampa for care. She was transferred to Bishop Museum of Science and Nature for continued care. She was released on February 18, 2021 at TECO in Hillsborough County. She was 216 centimeters long and weighed 510 pounds. She will be monitored by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute.

 

 

  1. 03/19/2021 10:00 AM

    • Sadly, Viva passed away this morning. We will be looking at every aspect of Viva's time since release. This. plus results from the necropsy, will hopefully yield some answers as to what caused her to decline so rapidly.

  2. 03/17/2021 09:45 AM

    • Viva has been in the eastern portion of the Alafia River by herself for over a week. Photos have shown some deterioration in her skin condition possibly due to cold stress. A health assessment was scheduled for today. Her remote location prevented the capture boat from getting to her and she would not go to the capture boat. The crew was given access to a residence nearest to her and she was able to be caught and hauled up the steep embankment to a waiting transport truck.  She was transported to ZooTampa for further evaluation.

  3. 03/15/2021 03:15 PM

    • Viva remains in the Alafia River by herself. Today she was milling along the shoreline in a casual manner. She avoided a couple of kayakers who came by, but otherwise just poked along the bank. Photos taken over the last week seem to show a deterioration in her skin condition possibly related to the colder water. A capture for health assessment is being planned.

  4. 03/11/2021 11:00 AM

    • Viva was resting on near shore in the Alafia River. This was a bend in the river where large rocks created a bit of a rapids effect. Viva was in a calm pool just to the side. After resting for a while, she moved into the current riding it down around the bend. She did that several times before moving back into the calm pool to rest. She had no trouble swimming back up to the rapids and moved easily into and out of the current. 

  5. 03/09/2021 12:45 PM

    • Viva has moved up the Alafia River and today was milling along the shore. She would stop and poke around under logs and low hanging plants. After leisurely meandering around a couple of bends in the river, she settled near the bank and rested for the remainder of the observation. Gas was observed.

  6. 03/05/2021 08:30 AM

    • Viva was traveling with another manatee up the Alafia River. She would stop occasionally but if the other manatee moved too far away, she would race to catch up to it. At one point she swam up on it and startled it causing a water eruption. Things settled down and they continued traveling.

  7. 03/01/2021 07:30 AM

    • Viva was following TruffleShuffle in Hillsborough Bay. She would occasionally stop but if he got too far away from her, she would race to catch up with him. At one point they met a mom/calf pair, and all socialized together. Viva lingered with the pair while TruffleShuffle moved to a grass bed. The mom/calf pair moved away in a different direction, but Viva chose to return to TruffleShuffle racing over to his side to join him in feeding.

  8. 02/24/2021 11:45 AM

    • Viva has not left TECO since her release. Today she was socializing with many different manatees at TECO. She moved away after a little bit and at one point lay on the ramp where manatees are walked in at release. She moved back to the main group of manatees and socialized until the weekly alarm test went off at the power plant. Viva scattered with all the other manatees and popped up further down the canal between the discharges.

  9. 02/22/2021 09:45 AM

    • Viva was resting with Opal near the viewing platform at TECO. A mom/calf pair came over to them and both girls interacted with them. Opal moved off to rest but Viva stayed with the pair. Viva soon left them and returned to a resting Opal. Viva would push Opal with her head until Opal responded. The two played for a little bit, chasing each other’s tags. Viva settled down after that to take another rest.

  10. 02/18/2021 12:15 PM

    • Viva was released at TECO with another untagged manatee Felicia. Viva milled around the viewing platform and out to the first discharge. She slowly made her way down the canal but stayed in overnight.

Data map is currently not present for Viva.