Manatee Rescued Off Cape Cod Is Pregnant
MYSTIC, Conn. (CBS) – The wayward manatee rescued off Cape Cod last week is expecting.
The 800-pound sea cow nicknamed "Washburn" is currently enjoying the warm water and an endless supply of lettuce at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.
During a routine medical exam Tuesday, aquarium staff discovered she's between 4 and 5 months pregnant.
The gestation period for a manatee is one year. Once she's stable enough, Washburn will move to Florida and eventually be released back into coastal waters.
The manatee was spotted several times around the Cape in recent months. Workers with the International Fund for Animal Welfare rescued Washburn after water temperatures dropped to a too-cool 67 degrees.
"We were really fortunate to find the manatee and rescue her before the water temperatures dropped," rescue program director Katie Moore said in a statement. "Knowing that she is carrying a calf makes her survival even more important."
