A manatee that became trapped in a Florida storm drain while searching for warmer waters is now recovering at SeaWorld Orlando following a large-scale rescue operation.

On Tuesday, multiple fire rescue teams, along with officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Florida, and Jack’s Wrecker Service, worked together to free the 410-pound (186-kilogram) manatee from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach.

The rescue effort was launched after a city worker discovered the animal during an inspection, Melbourne Beach Vice Mayor Terry Cronin told WESH-TV in Orlando.

“We’re currently upgrading storm drains throughout Melbourne Beach. During a routine survey, one of our workers spotted a manatee inside what’s known as a baffle box,” Cronin explained.

The male manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando, where he is now being treated in one of the park’s medical pools, according to spokesperson Stephanie Bechara.

“He is breathing on his own, moving independently, and showing interest in food,” Bechara said. “Our care teams are adjusting water levels to help with buoyancy and ensure his comfort as part of the recovery process.”

She added that the goal of SeaWorld’s rescue program is to stabilize and rehabilitate injured manatees so they can eventually be released back into the wild.

Manatees, a protected species, are still recovering from a devastating mass starvation event. In 2021 alone, officials recorded more than 1,100 manatee deaths, most of them caused by a lack of food.