INJURED BUT NOT OUT

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Today, biologists from SeaWorld are releasing manatees back to the wild.

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SeaWorld has selected Blue Springs State Park near Orlando for their manatee release.

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The water in Blue Springs never gets lower than 72°, which is ideal.

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And it's also currently full of manatees.

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And they will provide a special welcoming committee along with the SeaWorld team.

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Members of Save the Manatee Club have also gathered at the Blue Springs State Park to assist with the release.

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This is Squirrel, believe it or not, she is a juvenile female.

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She arrived at the SeaWorld Rescue Center at only £66.

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Today we've learned that she's close to 1000 lbs.

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Squirrel, as you might remember, is the orphan that was fostered by Stubby, the resident matriarch Vanity.

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We met at the Columbus Zoo.

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It's 1.31 centimeters.

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OK, we've got 13.1 millimeters.

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After her final health assessments, Squirrel is fitted with a special tracking device so biologists can monitor her progress.

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What we're doing is we're we're putting on a, it's called a VHF belt.

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So this is the VHF and this is a transmitter.

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Transmitter.

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The transmitter will detach itself in a few months.

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And with that, it's finally time for a Squirrel to return to the wild.

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Oh, my gosh.

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Oh, yeah.

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I'm OK.

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It's a, it's a surreal moment.

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OK, here we go.

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This girl is headed in the water.

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As soon as she feels the spring water on the skin, it seems as if she knows she's home.

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It's tough.

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I'm out of breath from helping to carry them down.

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But those teams of experts, of veterinarians and of rescue center staff made so much of a difference.

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Today, manatees are on the endangered species list, and there were times that their numbers were critically low.

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Their restoration has been imperative to the health of ecosystems like this, and this is a real moment for celebration.

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From manatees to right whales to baby sloths, when dedicated men and women fight to save injured and threatened animals, hope remains in our wild Kingdom.