( Cincinnati ) "Woodstock,” a young, female manatee has safely arrived at theCincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and is exploring her new home in the Zoo’s Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Manatee Springs exhibit. The 900-pound, two-year-old manatee arrived from the Columbus Zoo this afternoon and is doing well.

Woodstock was born in the wild and rescued off the Southwest coast of Florida on January 7, 2011.  She and her mother were victims of cold-stress. Woodstock was orphaned when her mother did not survive. Woodstock spent time at the Miami Seaquarium prior to going to the Columbus Zoo on November 2, 2011 and she is coming to Cincinnati to provide companionship for the Zoo’s current, lone female manatee, “Betsy.” Betsy has been alone since her previous companion, “Wooten,” left in November 2012 to be released back into the wild.

The Cincinnati Zoo is one of only two facilities outside of Florida to participate in the USFWS’ Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Program.  This Program began in 1973 with the mission of rescuing and rehabilitating distressed and injured Florida manatees.  The fundamental purpose of the program is to release these rehabilitated manatees back into their wild habitat. 

Manatees can live up to 60 years of age.