Crews rescue 19 manatees from storm drain in Florida

Authorities and animal rescue teams freed more than a dozen manatees stuck in a drainage pipe in Florida on Monday.

NBC News noted that Don Hughes, chief of Florida's Satellite Beach Fire Department said on Tuesday morning that all 19 manatees stuck in the pipe have been rescued following a 10-hour operation. Crews were able to free the mammals by 2 a.m.

Florida Today reported that firefighters, SeaWorld employees and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked together in the operation.

The large sea creatures like warm water and are known to swim to canals when the temperature in the lagoon drops.

"It's been cold lately and these canals are all filled with manatees," Hughes said. "I wouldn't even begin to venture a guess as to how they got into the drainage pipes. They will go wherever there's warm water."

A crowd had gathered at the beach near Cape Canaveral and cheered when the mammals were rescued.

Each of the manatees were evaluated and then released back into the lagoon.

Image shared via Twitter by Shaun chaiyabhat

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