Eva, our experienced manatee mum, went through a most difficult delivery. While manatee calves typically emerge tail first, the baby came out head first. Thankfully, there were no complications.
After the tedious birthing process, Eva didn’t get to rest. She had to act quickly and push the baby to the surface to help him take his first breath.
The baby was later named Bendito, meaning ‘blessed’ in Spanish, which perfectly describes his unusual birth. Bendito has grown into a big boy but still likes to hang around Mum sometimes.
