Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park in Florida

Travel with Bennett-Watt and discover the Manatees in the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park in Florida.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park in Florida Male: Natures giant fish ball is how Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park was one to advertise. At the head water of the Homosassa River the park started as a private attraction, later it was rescued from commercial development by the state. Primarily what did it was a local residence efforts to preserve the spring. Susan Dougherty: First of all the manatees are endangered species of marine mammal, they are very gentle, very curious animals. And because they are and they don’t move very fast when they’re out there in the wild and they live in the same water ways that we enjoy boating and recreational activities in so unfortunately they do get injured in time to time and does so. We hope here, in addition to being rehab center for injured manatees. They come here after medical to, when they come here and we keep them for a while then they be eventually be release and back to the wild. That’s of course very important but we’re also very aware of the important of educating public and we have almost 300, 000 visitors a year, come to this park, we can explain to people why its important to protect this gentle marine mammal and helpfully they wont be endangered species forever. The fish that you see in this spring you’re in the under water observatory or on the sand that above it are officially to free come and go. Even though the manatees that are here are enclose we have, we have a long river bridge further down the river and underneath the bridge there’s bars about 12 inches apart. So the fish can come and go and go as they wish but the manatees are stay here until their ready to be released in the US Fish and wild life service is the agency that decides when you’re ready to be released.