Cabbage

Patient Story

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is proud to announce the arrival of its first two manatee rehabilitation patients, Cabbage and Sleet, marking a major milestone in manatee conservation. This transfer signifies the launch of Mote’s role as a secondary care holding facility for manatee rehabilitation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Cabbage was rescued by FWC, ZooTampa, and Mote’s Stranding Investigations Research Program staff and volunteers on Feb. 27, 2025, at Portosueno Park in Bradenton, presenting signs of cold stress. Cabbage’s initial treatment at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature included thermal support, wound care to lesions associated with cold stress, and dietary support to address weight loss. After 61 days of care and clinical improvement, Cabbage was transferred to Mote for continued rehabilitation.

What is Mote's role as a secondary care holding facility?

After rescue, injured, sick or orphaned manatees are transferred to a federally permitted acute care facility. Once medically stabilized, manatees may be transferred to a secondary care holding facility, such as Mote, for final stages of rehabilitation while awaiting release.
Over the past several years, Florida has experienced unusually high numbers of manatee mortalities, driven largely by seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, and cold stress. Key threats placed extraordinary pressure on the state’s existing critical care centers, creating a significant need for expanded care and holding capacity. Mote’s new designation helps meet that need and supports a more robust statewide response to manatee rehabilitation and recovery efforts.

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