Rescued manatees at the Columbus Zoo have been named after Lizzo…

Rescued manatees at the Columbus Zoo have been named after Lizzo, Cardi B, Mary-Kate, and Ashley Olsen.

There are no limits to what people will go to in order to save animals in distress. In an effort to relieve strain on SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium recently created room in their facilities to take in four new wounded juvenile manatees. Seaworld has seen an all-time high number of aquatic marine mammals in distress.

Four female manatees were transferred to Columbus and saved as neonatal calves in 2020 and 2021, according to @thecolumbusdispatch. DHL Express transported the manatees in custom-built, state-of-the-art containers to make such a large move possible. Unfortunately, three of the manatees transferred were orphaned.

Rescued manatees at the Columbus Zoo have been named after Lizzo, Cardi B, Mary-Kate, and Ashley Olsen.

Since the zoo’s Manatee Coast exhibit debuted in 1999, it has received 39 manatees. While the zoo presently has nine manatees, including the four new ones, as well as two male calves that arrived in April, the latest recruits have some intriguing names.

The female manatees are named after Lizzo, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Cardi B, all of whom are well-known ladies in the entertainment business. The manatee, on the other hand, dropped the B and is now known as Cardi-Tee. “As a second stage rehabilitation facility, the Columbus Zoo is one of only two facilities outside of Florida to care for manatees,” the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, along with Seaworld, said in a news release on Sunday.

“The crew will care for the creatures until they grow enough weight to return to Florida waters when conditions are favorable,” the statement stated. Manatees are designated as “vulnerable” on the Endangered Species List, according to Jon Peterson, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando, as their number continues to decline to dangerously low levels. Manatees in Florida are also dying in greater numbers. Do you think animals should be named after celebrities, roommates?