“Don’t be afraid, my friend. We’re here to help you.”
The short version: According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Sewer Sam, the first documented, rescued Florida manatee, was rehabilitated at Three Sisters Springs in 1972 by Jacques Cousteau.
Here’s the story (as summarized by CoPilot AI): Sewer Sam was the first documented and rescued Florida manatee in history. In 1972, the renowned oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau and his team rescued Sam from a Miami sewer system, where he had become trapped and injured. Cousteau and his crew brought him to Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay, Citrus County, Florida, a natural warm-water refuge for manatees.
At Three Sisters Springs, Cousteau’s team rehabilitated Sewer Sam, acclimating him to the spring’s warm, shallow waters and safe environment. Once he was healthy and adapted, Sam was released into Kings Bay, where he joined the resident manatee population. This event marked a turning point in manatee conservation, as it was the first time a rescued manatee had been successfully rehabilitated and returned to the wild.
The story of Sewer Sam is featured in the 1972 documentary “The Forgotten Mermaids”, part of Cousteau’s “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” series. The film documents the rescue, rehabilitation, and release, highlighting the plight of manatees and the importance of protecting their habitat.
Today, Three Sisters Springs remains a key manatee habitat, now part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1983 to protect the endangered Florida manatee. Visitors can still see manatees in the area, though guided tours and safety rules are in place to ensure both the animals and humans remain safe.