Manatees on camera and in care

Our lettuce-loving sea cows are making the headlines — in more ways than one.

A manatee is just underneath the surface of some blue-green water. The animal is sticking its nose out from under the water which has a shiny reflection from lights above.

Got any veggies?

Table of Contents

Manatees have surfacing on local news feeds lately, so we thought we’d give a couple of updates on our favorite whiskered sea mammal.

Not so gentle giants

Filming starts soon in Tampa for “No Wake Zone” — a movie about a killer manatee. The horror/comedy will film for 13 days in early 2024, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Sarasota-based production company Toxic Pictures is expected to spend around $800,000 dollars in Hillsborough County during filming.

We’re going to need a bigger head of lettuce.

ZooTampa rehabbing trio

In the world of nonfiction, ZooTampa is rehabilitating three manatees before they are released back into the wild in the coming months, as first reported by That’s So Tampa.

Piccolina, Soleil, and Calliope were previously treated at ZooTampa’s David A. Straz, Jr. Critical Care Center before spending around a year at the Cincinnati Zoo. The trio were three of the smallest manatee calves to ever arrive at the center when they first arrived, but now weigh over 2,500 lbs combined.

More from TBAYtoday
The economic landscape of Tampa Bay, who’s hiring, and who’s most likely to expand investments into our community.
From Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Parade to a beer and barbecue festival, it’s going to be a busy February weekend across Tampa and St. Pete.
Fit the Surf n’ Turf Alfredo Sundae and other fair delights into your budget.
Get in on the action this Super Bowl Sunday with six local watch parties featuring big screens, a chili cook-off, and food + drink specials.
These local donation sites will collect items like clothing, home goods, diapers, and other things that people may need.
The grand opening of the alpine event is on Friday, Feb. 6 in Northern Italy. We’re imagining how it would go down in the Tampa Bay area.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
See which Tampa Bay gems made OpenTable’s “2026’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants.”
Tampa Bay’s beloved coffee joint is making its first move into Pinellas and Sarasota counties.