Rosie

Rosie was originally captured near Marsh Island in St. Augustine, Florida, on September 12, 1968. She was housed at Marineland until December 23, 1980, when she and two other manatees, Beverly and Beauregard, were brought to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. These three were the first manatees to live at Homosassa Springs after the park received its permit to care for manatees. Beverly and Beauregard have since been released into the wild, making Rosie the manatee who has been in residence the longest at the park. Rosie is not a suitable candidate for release because she has an equilibrium problem that causes her to swim in right hand circles.

Rosie is very independent. She enjoys exploring different areas of the springs by herself. She may not participate in all of the manatee education programs, but when she does, she rolls on her back and points to her mouth with her flipper to let Ranger Dearth know she wants more vitamin "treats."
On June 20, 1987, she gave birth to a calf that was two months premature. The tiny calf died four days later from congenital abnormalities. In October, 1990, Rosie gave birth to twins, which is very unusual for a manatee. The calves, both males, died -- one from respiratory complications after birth and the other from congenital problems. However, Rosie was able to help provide care for Betsy, a young female born to Amanda in October, 1990, by allowing her to nurse.

Rosie is described as the "matriarch" of the springs by park staff who note her dignified "queen-like" presence. She is gentle and kind to the younger manatees and often serves as "second mommy." Rosie comes to almost every program and looks after the younger manatees, even allowing them to try and nurse. While most of the other manatees defer to Rosie, she is quite friendly, When the mood strikes her, though, she tends to stay to herself.

1999-2000: Quite and relaxed, Rosie has been carrying on as usual this year. During her spare time (which makes up most of the day!), she enjoys taking a nice, lazy nap in the shade of the reptile house. Occasionally, she gives into hunger and makes her way slooowly over to the "salad bar." On a typical day, Rosie often swims past the windows of the Fishbowl Observatory, and she does barrel rolls along the way. Rosie is the largest manatee at the park. But even though she may be big, she does not use her size to push the other manatees around. She is truly a gentle soul. Ranger Betsy says that Rosie waits her turn to go into the "salad bar" feeding area, and she doesn't push the other manatees during the program. If Rosie decides to go off and take a nap, she can usually find another manatee to keep her company. We think the others like to be with her.

1998-1999. Ranger Betsy has said that whoever called manatees "Gentle Giants" must have known Rosie. While she is the largest manatee at HSSWP, weighing in at 2,500 pounds, Rosie is also very gentle. With no "kids" of her own, Rosie can usually be found playing mom to any young injured or orphaned manatees recuperating at the park. She also is very tolerant when it comes to getting her "treats" during the education programs. If she happens to be in the back behind the other manatees, she will patiently wait her turn. Occasionally, she will roll over on her back and splash the water with her flipper, just to make sure she is not forgotten! One "small" problem does occur at the Manatee Salad Bar, however. (By the way, your support enabled SMC to sponsor the Manatee Salad Bar for the manatees at HSSWP!) Rosie swims halfway into the feeding pen, and begins munching on her favorite treats, blocking the entrance for the other manatees. Ranger Betsy says that when they replace the netting to the salad bar, they will be making it larger-just for Rosie! Aside from being the biggest manatee at the park, Rosie can also be identified by a small, round scar on her left shoulder.

1997-1998: "Aunt Rosie," as she is known around the park is doing wonderfully. She holds the distinction of being the largest manatee at HSSWP. Rosie, who is now 34 years old, tips the scales at 2,500 pounds. Although her size could enable her to be "pushy," she remains the most gentle manatee in the park. When the vitamin biscuits are being given out, Rosie patiently waits at the back of the line, although she rolls on her back splashing water with her flippers, just in case Ranger Bet5y might not see her there! Proving that the younger, more svelte manatees have nothing on our full-figured gal, Rosie enjoys doing barrel rolls for school students who attend the manatee education programs. And, in typical Rosie-fashion, she still is enjoying playing mom to orphans Oakley, Willowby, and Holly since their arrival from Sea World in 1997.

1996-1997: Ranger Dearth reports that Rosie is still the biggest manatee at the park. Yet despite her size, she is very gentle. When the manatees crowd around the park rangers for their vitamins, some of them will push other manatees out of the way to get close or even climb right over them! But Rosie always waits her turn She's a real lady. She's also still her sweet and motherly self. She was thrilled when four orphaned calves arrived from Sea. World in June and became, as usual, the ultimate stepmother. She was observed nursing one of the orphans. Rosie is still "mothering" Willoughby and Holly, two calves who were rescued in 1995. Ranger Dearth reports that they both stay close to Rosie and nurse often. Rosie has also had good attendance marks for the manatee education programs at the park this year and has also taken to rolling on her back and slapping her flippers to splash for attention.

1995-1996: : Rosie has been designated "queen of the scales." She is the biggest manatee at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, and it seems the others will never catch up to her in size. She is usually the last manatee to leave the feeding pens, so we think there must be some positive correlation there! The rangers at HSSWP report that Rosie is almost always a lady and never pushes her weight around. Every so often she'll forget herself during a program and roll on her back and wave her flippers. There' s not a lot of changes in Rosie to report. She' s still the "big-cheese" at the park. You could say Rosie likes to throw her weight around -- and she has the weight to do it! Hay is part of the manatees' diet at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, and Rosie loves it. In fact, she often hangs around the feeder waiting for it to arrive.

1994-1995: This is Rosie's 15th year at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park (HSSWP). She has been there each time an injured or orphaned manatee has been brought to the park for treatment and rehabilitation. Since she has never had the opportunity to raise a calf of her own, she displays her maternal instincts by taking the newcomers "under her flipper," making them feel at home in their new surroundings. Two of her former "charges," Ariel's son Doc and the orphaned Newbob, were sent to the Merritt Island Staging Area in June in preparation for release into the wild. Unfortunately, the young manatees did not do well. They lost weight and fluids and had to be returned to captivity. Doc was sent to Sea World, and Newbob went back to Lowry Park Zoo. Also interesting to note, Rosie is now the largest manatee at HSSWP, no doubt due to her eating habits. She blocks the door to the feeding pen with her body, preventing the other manatees from getting through, thus insuring she can eat all she wants without the others interfering.

1993-1994: True to her maternal form, Rosie has been the perfect "auntie" to Ariel's calf Doc this year. She allows him to nurse and has been quite protective of him. In fact, Rosie seems to enjoy watching over all of the younger manatees at the park. Sometimes orphaned manatees will come to the park, or a female manatee that has been injured may have a calf with her. Almost any time Rosie has been seen, she has at least one of the young manatees with her. She has been designated as the resident "babysitter" of the park area.

1992-1993: In March, Florida experienced the "Storm of the Century" which pounded the west coast of Florida and flooded the park. The park sustained considerable damage, but not to worry! Rosie came through it without any problems. The staff at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park have noticed that Rosie likes attention. If she feels the other manatees are getting any special treatment, she rolls on her back and slaps the water to get noticed! Her mothering instinct is still going strong. Recently a two-month-old manatee calf named "Newbob" was rescued near Ft. Myers and brought to the park. Rosie was waiting in the park's manatee isolation care unit (donated by SMC) and when the calf was lowered into the enclosure, she swam quickly to him and stayed near him. She has also been spending a lot of time babysitting Ariel's new calf Dec, and he seems to like being with "Aunt Rosie".

1991-1992: Twenty-seven-year-old Rosie traveled to Lowry Park Zoo's Manatee Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where she underwent surgery to remove a carbuncle from her back which had been present for several years. Her vacation seems to have increased her appetite, and she spends a lot of time at the feeding area. When vitamins are given out, she will roll on her back and wave her flipper toward her mouth when she wants more!