Bishop Museum Of Science And Nature Inc

2024 PRESCOTT PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: F24AS00186PROJECT TITLE: INCREASED CAPACITY AND MENTORSHIP FOR MANATEE REHABILITATION AT THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATUREPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: VIRGINIA EDMONDS 941-216-3466, VEDMONDS@BISHOPSCIENCE.ORGPROJECT DURATION DATES OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES: AUGUST 2024 THROUGH JULY 2025PRESCOTT GRANT PROGRAM CATEGORY: BTHE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE, INC., A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE MANATEE REHABILITATION NETWORK SINCE 1998 AND COMMITS SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ANNUALLY TO STAFFING, FACILITIES CARE, EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR REHABILITATING MANATEES. WE WERE A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MANATEE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP (MRP) IN 2001. THIS FUNDING REQUEST SUPPORTS TWO FUNDING PRIORITIES SPECIFIC TO WEST INDIAN MANATEES:FOR WEST INDIAN MANATEES (FLORIDA SUB-SPECIES), FUNDING WILL BE PRIORITIZED FOR PROJECTS ADDRESSING ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 1.IMPROVE OR UPGRADE TRANSPORT FOR LIVE MANATEES, INCLUDING RESCUE TRUCKS, BOATS, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. 2.PROVIDE CONTINGENCY SUPPORT FOR MANATEE CARE, RESCUE TRANSPORT RESPONSE, AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS. IN 2022, USFWS AND FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION ASKED THE BISHOP TO EXPAND ITS MANATEE REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND WE ARE DOING SO BY RENOVATING A NEARBY FACILITY. A PHASE OF THIS RENOVATION IS COMPLETE WITH ONE POOL IN THE LIFE SUPPORT TESTING PERIOD. ON 29 FEBRUARY 2024, THE BISHOP RECEIVED TWO MANATEES TRANSFERRED FROM ZOOTAMPA. WITH THIS TRANSFER, THE BISHOP ASSISTED IN OPENING CRITICAL CARE SPACE FOR THE ZOO AND BROUGHT ITS FIRST POOL ONLINE AT THE MYAKKA SITE. AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH CAPACITY, THE MYAKKA FACILITY SERVES AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR MRP PARTNER INSTITUTIONS. IN THE BRIEF TWO WEEKS THAT IT HAS HOUSED MANATEES, THE BISHOP HAS HOSTED NINE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM (A FEDERALLY PERMITTED ORGANIZATION) REHABILITATION STAFF TO LEARN MANATEE HUSBANDRY AND BEHAVIOR. UNIQUE TO THE FACILITY IS HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTSIDE STAFF TO VISIT AND STAY FOR MULTIPLE DAYS, INCREASING CONSISTENCY AND REPETITION WHICH ARE CRITICAL FOR LEARNING. ANY OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MANATEE CARE AND BEHAVIOR IN ADVANCE OF RECEIVING MANATEES, IS A BENEFIT FOR THE STAFF AND THE ANIMALS.WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MANATEES IN OUR CARE, ALL OF WHICH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RETURN TO THE WILD. AS WE PREPARE MANATEES FOR RELEASE, WE PROVIDE OPTIMAL NUTRITION THAT INCLUDES 5 TYPES OF PRODUCE AND AT A MINIMUM, 10% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT. THE GOAL IS TO HELP YOUNG MANATEES GROW AND LEARN BEHAVIORS NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL IN THE WILD. THIS CLEARS SPACE FOR HOSPITALS THAT ARE OFTEN OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF A TRANSPORT TRUCK BUILD. ONCE AVAILABLE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE OUR SUPPORT OF MANATEE TRANSPORT FOR RESCUE, TRANSFER, OR RELEASE. EQUIPMENT IS BEING REQUESTED FOR TRANSPORT AND TO PROVIDE ENHANCED ASSISTANCE WITH VERIFICATION. THE MRP WORKS AS A COOPERATIVE OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OCEANARIA TO RESCUE, REHABILITATE, AND RELEASE MANATEES. THE GROUP OPERATES VIA COMMITTEE STRUCTURE TO SHARE INFORMATION, CREATE PLANS, AND MAKE DECISIONS AND THE BISHOP IS ACTIVE AT ALL LEVELS. THE BISHOPS DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT AND SERVES ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THE ATTENDING VETERINARIAN IS THE CURRENT CO-CHAIR OF THE VETERINARY COMMITTEE AND PARTICIPATES IN MANY COMMITTEES. THE MANATEE REHABILITATION HABITAT AT THE MUSEUM FEATURES A 60,000-GALLON POOL AND EXHIBIT AREA WHERE ANIMAL CARE STAFF INTERACT WITH MUSEUM VISITORS. THE EXPANSION FACILITY RENOVATION HAS OPENED A POOL AND IS HOUSING ITS FIRST MANATEES. THERE WILL BE NO REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS PROGRAM EXPANSION AS IT IS NOT AT THE MAIN MUSEUM LOCATION AND WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC. THE BISHOP IS PERMITTED FOR CRITICAL CARE, HOLDING, VERIFICATION AND TRANSPOR

THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE, INC., A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE MANATEE REHABILITATION NETWORK SINCE 1998 AND COMMITS SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ANNUALLY TO STAFFING, FACILITIES CARE, EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR REHABILITATING MANATEES. WE WERE A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MANATEE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP (MRP) IN 2001. THIS FUNDING REQUEST SUPPORTS THREE FUNDING PRIORITIES SPECIFIC TO WEST INDIAN MANATEES IN THE SOUTHEAST US.1.TRANSPORT FOR LIVE MANATEES THAT WILL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPORT RESPONSE EFFORTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST, INCLUDING RESCUE TRUCKS, BOATS, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT 2.PROVIDE CONTINGENCY SUPPORT FOR MANATEE CARE AND RESCUE TRANSPORT RESPONSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS 3.ENHANCE POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF SURVIVAL FOR INDIVIDUALS RELEASED FROM REHABILITATION OR ON-SITE FROM STRANDINGS (E.G., SATELLITE TAGS AND ARGOS SUPPORT).WE ALSO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS ABOUT MANATEES, THEIR HABITAT, NATURAL HISTORY AND THE REASONS THEY COME INTO REHABILITATION.IN 2022, USFWS AND FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION ASKED THE BISHOP TO EXPAND ITS MANATEE REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND WE ARE DOING SO BY RENOVATING A NEARBY FACILITY. THIS EXPANSION INCREASES OVERALL CAPACITY OF THE STATEWIDE MANATEE REHABILITATION NETWORK BY UP TO 10 , PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR BOTH CRITICAL EMERGENCY CARE AND LONG-TERM CARE OF MANATEES. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE PURCHASING A CUSTOMIZED MANATEE TRANSPORT TRUCK (FUNDED SEPARATELY IN 2022) AND EXPECT IT TO BE OPERATIONAL THIS YEAR.WE CARE FOR AND PREPARE MANATEES FOR RELEASE, PROVIDING OPTIMAL NUTRITION AND HELPING YOUNG MANATEES GROW AND LEARN BEHAVIORS NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY RETURN TO THE WILD. THIS CLEARS SPACE AT HOSPITALS THAT ARE OFTEN OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DUE TO THE UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT AFFECTING MANATEES ON THE ATLANTIC COAST. THE MUSEUM IS THE ONLY STAGE 2 FACILITY ON FLORIDAS WEST COAST. THE MRP WORKS AS A COOPERATIVE OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OCEANARIA TO RESCUE, REHABILITATE, AND RELEASE MANATEES. THE GROUP OPERATES VIA COMMITTEE STRUCTURE TO SHARE INFORMATION, CREATE PLANS AND MAKE DECISIONS AND THE BISHOP IS ACTIVE AT ALL LEVELS. THE BISHOPS DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE AND ATTENDING VETERINARIAN PARTICIPATE IN MANY COMMITTEES AND ARE AMONG THE MOST EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS IN THE NETWORK.THE MANATEE REHABILITATION HABITAT AT THE MUSEUM FEATURES A 60,000 GALLON POOL AND EXHIBIT AREA WHERE EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS ARE GIVEN TO MUSEUM VISITORS. THE EXPANSION FACILITY RENOVATION IS NEARLY COMPLETE AND WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE OUR FIRST MANATEES IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE FACILITY CONSISTS OF SEVEN POOLS OF VARYING SIZE, CONFIGURATION AND DEPTH. THERE WILL BE NO REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS PROGRAM EXPANSION AS IT IS NOT AT THE MAIN MUSEUM LOCATION AND WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC. THE BISHOP IS PERMITTED FOR CRITICAL CARE, HOLDING, VERIFICATION AND TRANSPORT. OUR ROLE IS TO CARE FOR AND PREPARE MANATEES FOR RELEASE, HELPING YOUNG MANATEES GROW OR ADULT MANATEES RECOVER FROM INJURY OR ILLNESS BEFORE RELEASE.WE ARE REQUESTING 150,000 TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF TWO MANATEES, ANIMAL CARE STAFF TIME AND VETERINARY SERVICES. THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO WORK WITH THE MRP TO MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF MANATEE FACILITIES OFFERING CRITICAL CARE, THE NUMBER OF FACILITIES PROVIDING TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE FOR RESCUES AND TRANSFERS BETWEEN FACILITIES, AND THE NUMBER MANATEES MONITORED POST-RELEASE IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ABOUT MANATEES.

THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE, INC , HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE MANATEE REHABILITATION NETWORK SINCE 1998 AND COMMITS SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ANNUALLY TO STAFFING, FACILITIES CARE, EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR REHABILITATING MANATEES THE MUSEUM IS A STAGE 2 MANATEE REHABILITATION FACILITY WHERE MANATEES COME AFTER THEIR CRITICAL CARE NEEDS HAVE BEEN MET AT ONE OF FLORIDA S 3 MANATEE HOSPITALS OUR ROLE IS TO CARE FOR AND PREPARE THEM FOR RELEASE, HELPING YOUNG MANATEES GROW OR ADULT MANATEES RECOVER FROM INJURY OR ILLNESS BEFORE RELEASE THIS CLEARS SPACE AT THE HOSPITALS FOR MANATEES IN NEED OF ACUTE CARE AT FACILITIES THAT ARE OFTEN OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DUE TO THE UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT AFFECTING MANATEES ON THE ATLANTIC COAST THE MUSEUM IS THE ONLY STAGE 2 REHABILITATION FACILITY ON FLORIDA S WEST COAST THE BISHOP IS PERMITTED FOR CRITICAL CARE, HOLDING, VERIFICATION AND TRANSPORT THE MUSEUM S ANIMAL CARE TEAM CONSISTS OF 3 FULL TIME AND 3 PART TIME STAFF AND CONTRACT VETERINARY SERVICES THE MUSEUM WAS AMONG THE FOUNDING PARTNERS OF THE MANATEE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP MRP IN 2001 THE MRP IS THE COOPERATIVE GROUP OF NON PROFIT, PRIVATE, STATE, AND FEDERAL ENTITIES WITH A STAKE IN TRACKING THE POST RELEASE FATE OF REHABILITATED MANATEES IN THE WILD THE PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER TO DETERMINE PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES FOR MANATEE CARE, HEALTH STANDARDS, RELEASE PLANS AND POST RELEASE MONITORING THIS FUNDING REQUEST IS PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT POST RELEASE MONITORING OF SURVIVAL FOR MANATEES RELEASED FROM REHABILITATION THROUGH TRACKING, VETERINARY CARE AND NUTRITION POST RELEASE MONITORING OF NAI?VE ANIMALS THAT MAY NEED ASSISTANCE AS THEY RE ADJUST TO THE WILD ALLOWS TIMELY INTERVENTION AND LESSENS RISK FOR THE MANATEES MONITORING IS DONE THROUGH THE USE OF SATELLITE TRACKING AND VISUAL OBSERVATIONS THE BISHOP IS REQUESTING FUNDING FOR 3 SATELLITE LINKED TRANSMITTERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR POST RELEASE MONITORING PROVIDED THROUGH THE MRP THE ATTENDING VETERINARIAN IS A KEY PARTICIPANT IN ALL STAGES OF REHABILITATION, RELEASE AND POST RELEASE MONITORING, SO THOROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN THE MRP IS CRUCIAL TO SUCCESSFUL POST RELEASE MONITORING IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE ATTENDING VETERINARIAN PERFORM PRE RELEASE LAB WORK, VISIT MONTHLY AND PARTICIPATE IN ALL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, TRANSPORTS AND RELEASES TO PROVIDE THE BEST PREPARATION POSSIBLE FOR SUCCESSFUL RELEASE AND TO MAKE SURE POST RELEASE MONITORING IS AS THOROUGH AND EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE MONTHLY VETERINARY VISITS ALLOW FOR SCHEDULED, IN PERSON OPPORTUNITIES TO VIEW ANIMALS, DISCUSS ANIMAL WELFARE AND BEST PRACTICES, AND DISCUSS RELEASE TIMEFRAMES AND READINESS THE MUSEUM S VETERINARIAN, DAVID MURPHY, DVM, IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED MANATEE VETERINARIANS IN THE COUNTRY USFWS AND FWC HAVE NOTED THAT ANIMAL CARE DIRECTOR VIRGINIA EDMONDS AND ATTENDING VETERINARIAN DR MURPHY HAVE UNIQUE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE REHABILITATING MANATEE CALVES, MOST OF WHICH ARE MONITORED POST RELEASE THE AGENCIES HAVE ASKED THEM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE REGARDING CALVES AND HELP TRAIN MENTOR OTHERS MRP COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION IS A MAJOR PART OF THAT PROCESS DR MURPHY IS A MEMBER OF THE VETERINARY WORKING GROUP, RELEASE COMMITTEE AND NEW MEMBER COMMITTEE MS EDMONDS IS A MEMBER OF THE RELEASE, RESCUE AND REHABILITATION AND STEERING COMMITTEES AND CO CHAIRS THE CONTINGENCY WORKING GROUP FUNDING IS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT 10 OF THE ANIMAL CARE STAFF TIME SPENT IN YEAR 1 AND 15 IN YEAR 2 CARING FOR MANATEES, PREPARING FOR AND RELEASING MANATEES, TRANSPORTING MANATEES, AND CREATING AND DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS TO MUSEUM VISITORS, FOR THE MUSEUM S SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM AND THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA WITH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF REVENUE COMING FROM ATTENDANCE, THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC

STAGE 2 MANATEE REHABILITATION AND MRP PARTICIPATION AT THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE