A female manatee is back in the water after months of rehabilitation at SeaWorld following a difficult rescue earlier this year.
Citron was rescued in January in Crystal River after she was found swimming on her side.
Officials said Citron was suffering from a condition that caused air to become trapped in her chest because of a damaged lung.
The condition affected her ability to swim normally and required an extended period of care and rehabilitation.
Her rehabilitation was challenging, according to officials, who said they are thrilled to see Citron back in the wild.
On Tuesday morning, Citron was returned to Crystal River, where she was seen swimming in the water once again.
After months of treatment and recovery, the successful return marks an important milestone for the manatee and the teams that worked to get her healthy enough to return home.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group





