By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/video-rescuers-free-manatees-florida-drain-pipe Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Video: Rescuers free manatees from Florida drain pipe Nation Feb 24, 2015 10:58 AM EDT Watch video of the manatee rescue. Nineteen manatees seeking the warm waters of a Florida beach were rescued overnight Tuesday after they became trapped in a drainage pipe. Animal specialists and local authorities used earth-moving equipment to free the marine mammals, which can be up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1,300 pounds, from Satellite Beach on Florida’s east coast. Rescuers had to cut the pipe to remove all of the manatees. Onlookers cheered as they were lifted out one-by-one in large stretchers. The mostly plant-eating creatures were scraped and bruised from their temporary captivity, but overall seemed no worse for wear. By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Watch video of the manatee rescue. Nineteen manatees seeking the warm waters of a Florida beach were rescued overnight Tuesday after they became trapped in a drainage pipe. Animal specialists and local authorities used earth-moving equipment to free the marine mammals, which can be up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1,300 pounds, from Satellite Beach on Florida’s east coast. Rescuers had to cut the pipe to remove all of the manatees. Onlookers cheered as they were lifted out one-by-one in large stretchers. The mostly plant-eating creatures were scraped and bruised from their temporary captivity, but overall seemed no worse for wear.