Sea cow, not pond cow.
A baby manatee was rescued from a small pond in Florida — a mile and a half of open water — after being stranded there by Hurricane Helen's storm surge.
Julie is taken to the zoo where he will recover before being released. Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park / Facebook
A hunter near Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, in Dixie County, found a 2-year-old, 500-pound manatee last week, according to a Facebook post from ZooTampa in Lowry Park.
The distraught hunter quickly called the authorities, who came to rescue the distressed pup – who they named Julie.
Pictures show rescuers hard at work trying to pull poor Jolie from the remote wilderness that has become his prison.
He was unable to keep the puppy. Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park / Facebook
Due to the limited food supply in the small pond where the baby mammoth was found, Jolly lost an alarming amount of weight, according to the post.
Experts believe that Jolie ended up far from home due to severe storms caused by Hurricane Helen.
“This area experienced significant storm surge flooding in late September due to Hurricane Helen, which is likely why the manatee ended up far from open water,” the post read.
He was not in good health when he was found in the small pond. Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park / Facebook
“Manatees displaced by storm waters often remain in unusual locations with limited food sources after the surge subsides,” the statement continued.
Julie was found not far from where Hurricane Helen made landfall in the Big Bend area near Perry, Florida, according to the Miami Herald.
Julie was transported back to the Tampa Zoo for a full health evaluation and receive care before being returned to his ocean home, according to a Facebook post.
November is Manatee Appreciation Month.
