SeaWorld Orlando is celebrating an emotional milestone after one of its rescued manatees made a remarkable recovery and was finally able to return to the wild.
The manatee, named Citron, arrived at SeaWorld with serious injuries after being struck by a watercraft. She was also diagnosed with pneumothorax, a condition in which air becomes trapped in the chest because of a damaged lung, causing the lung to collapse.
Citron underwent multiple medical procedures and spent months receiving specialized care from SeaWorld Orlando’s animal rescue team.
In a Facebook post shared on Aug. 31, National Zoo Awareness Day, SeaWorld showed clips of Citron slowly regaining her strength during rehabilitation.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pneumothorax can be caused by an injury or underlying medical condition. While some mild cases can resolve on their own, more serious cases often require treatment to remove trapped air from the chest.
Citron’s recovery was especially meaningful because this was not the first time she had needed help.
SeaWorld animal care specialist Elysa Tripp said Citron was originally rescued in 2025, but after suffering another injury, she had to be rescued again this year.
“Over the last handful of months, we’ve been able to help her gain her health back,” Tripp said. “She’s been able to eat, and she no longer had any medical issues. Her buoyancy is great.”
After months of treatment, Citron was healthy enough to make the roughly 88-mile trip from Orlando to Crystal River, Florida, where she was released back into her natural habitat.
Crystal River is widely known as the “Manatee Capital of the World” and is home to a large population of the beloved marine mammals.
For the SeaWorld team, seeing Citron return to the water for a second time was both exciting and emotional.
“With Citron, it’s pretty special being a re-rescue that we’ve been able to help her again, and see her go through the cycle of rehab and returning her,” Tripp said.
She described the moment as “really bittersweet” after everything Citron had been through.
“We love Citron, and we’re so proud of all our work that we’ve been able to help give her that second chance of life,” Tripp added.
After surviving serious injuries and months of rehabilitation, Citron is now back where she belongs, swimming freely in Florida waters once again.