MELBOURNE, Fla. – A manatee’s journey from a storm drain to the open water captivated a community - and for one Melbourne Beach family, it became something even more personal.
Melby the manatee, rescued from a storm water drain in Melbourne Beach, was officially released at Ballard Park in Melbourne, drawing a large crowd of supporters eager to see him return to his natural habitat. The event drew residents, wildlife officials, and even the family of a children’s book author who turned Melby’s story into a lesson about resilience.
For Sara Russo and her 9-year-old twin daughters, Aven and Luna, the day was nothing short of a full-circle moment. Their Melbourne Beach home sits about 200 yards from where Melby was pulled from the ground - and they were there the night it happened.
“We knew that something was going on out of the norm,” Russo said. “There were school kids watching - around 2:30 is right when they had lifted up the cover and found him. And then, I think it was close to 10 o’clock when he was finally extricated from the ground, and we were there the entire time.”
The experience inspired Russo to write a children’s book, Melby and the Warm-Water Wrong Turn, which tells the rescue story from Melby’s perspective. She published it within about a week of the rescue.
“I honestly felt like the story was writing itself,” Russo said. “As it was happening, it just felt like - wow, this is meant to be told.”
The book carries a message that resonates well beyond manatees.
“The lesson is really about - if you make a wrong turn, or maybe you’re stuck in a place you didn’t mean to be, that is not the end of your story,” Russo said. “Even if you feel like your options are none, or you feel like you’re stuck in a place you don’t want to be - if you are patient, resilient, help will find you, and helpers are all around us as well.”
Russo’s daughters played a hands-on role in creating the book - and were front and center at the release.
“My daughters are 9-year-old twins, and since they were babies, reading and story time has just been a part of our daily rituals,” Russo said.
Russo said she used a combination of her own photography from the night of the rescue and graphic design tools to bring the book to life quickly.
As for Melby’s release day, Russo said she felt it deeply.
“For me today, personally, just because I’m so connected to this story, it feels like a full-circle moment,” she said. “It’s a little bit emotional, and I’m happy that he’s going to be well.”
The crowd’s energy was not lost on the wildlife professionals who orchestrated the release. Mallory McCormack, a senior zoological specialist on the SeaWorld rescue team, said the community’s presence made the day especially meaningful.
“I absolutely love when the community shows up and has the support of manatees,” McCormack said. “Melby deserves the support. And his story is really incredible.”
Blake Fawcett, an assistant research scientist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), said the turnout reflected how invested the local community had become in Melby’s journey from the very beginning.
“It was awesome to see all the community involvement and just the support of everybody super invested in Melby’s story all the way through,” Fawcett said. “I think it’s just a part of the small town, and they just came together. A lot of people were actually there for his rescue as well, so I think they were just invested in it from the start.”
Before his release, wildlife officials took final measurements and scanned his microchip - a standard procedure before returning a manatee to the wild.
McCormack said Melby’s progress during his rehabilitation, including gaining more than 100 pounds, combined with strong bloodwork, made him a clear candidate for release.
Melby does not carry a satellite tracker, as those are typically reserved for younger, more inexperienced animals. He does, however, carry a microchip - similar to those used for dogs and cats - that would allow officials to identify him if he gets in trouble again.
Fawcett reminded attendees that the best way to help manatees is to report injured or distressed animals to the FWC hotline at 888-404-FWCC
Russo said she is already working on a second Melby book and has been sharing the story with schools as far away as Pennsylvania. The book is available on Amazon, on Kindle, and through select local retailers.
“I guess I’ll keep writing as long as Melby keeps swimming,” Russo said