When we say 24/7, we mean it!

When most people are heading to bed after a night out, our Animal Rescue Team is jumping out of bed to start their day. That’s right, first shift begins promptly at 2:30 a.m. because two orphaned manatee calves are waiting for their next bottle. And just like human babies you can’t skip a feeding even if it’s the middle of the night.

One might think that the morning shift is the calm before the storm, when the park is up and running, but that is far from the truth.

Looking for an outsider’s perspective? We invited Gabrielle Russon from the Orlando Sentinel to join us for the first shift last week and here’s a brief snippet from her story…

At 2:56 a.m., Jennifer Parnell wears a wetsuit and climbs into a 4,000-gallon pool that holds No. 23 and two other orphaned manatee babies. The 32-year-old animal rescue specialist folds her arms calmly and waits for No. 23 to resurface for air.

Click here to read Gabrielle’s full story and get some insight on her experience.