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Jacksonville zoo gets its first manatee critical care residents from sea world

Jacksonville, Fla — Two young manatees have completed their move from Sea World Orlando to Jacksonville becoming the first residents of the Manatee Critical Care Center at the Jacksonville Zoo.

The Sea Cows named Cassie and Buckeye,  were orphaned in the fall of 2015 and have been under the care of Sea World.

Cassie weighed about 65 pounds when she was found but is now close to 800 .

Buckeye is now closing in on 600 pounds but weighed only 60 when he was found.

Both are still growing - a healthy Florida manatees can weigh up to 2000 pounds.

If all goes well over the next few months, Zoo curator Craig Miller says the duo be returned to the wild during winter in warmer waters in South Florida.

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