ARIEL was rescued with her mother, Amanda, on Christmas Day, 1973. Amanda was found injuried at Lake Worth Inlet in Florida. At that time, Ariel was about two weeks old. She lived in the Miami Seaquarium with her mother until July 14, 1986, when they both were transferred to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park(HSSWP) in Homosassa, Florida.

      While still at the Seaquarium, Ariel gave birth to Sunrise, a male calf, on September 6, 1982. Sunrise came to HSSWP on August 4, 1984 and was released into the wild with another manatee, Savannah, on March 28, 1986. The whereabouts of Sunrise and Savannah are not presently known. Ariel had a second calf, Stormy, on July 22, 1985 at the Seaquarium. The father is a manatee named Romeo who is still living at the Seaquarium. After spending a few years with his mother at the park, Stormy was transferred to Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. In October of 1992, Ariel gave birth to a male calf named Doc.

      Ariel is usually predictable in that she likes to occupy the same spot at every manatee education program. She always lifts her head high out of the water to smile at Ranger Dearth and the visitor.

      For further information on Ariel or to find out how to adopt your own manatee, close this page and click on the swimming manatee.