TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two manatees are getting a second chance at life as they will be released back into the Florida waters after spending nearly a year of rehabilitation at ZooTampa and the Georgia Aquarium.

On Tuesday, manatees Burger and Vamo will be released back into the waters at Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center Tuesday afternoon.

Burrger was rescued on Jan. 25, 2023, from the St. Petersburg area after suffering from cold stress. He only weighed 320 pounds when he was found. Vamo arrived on Feb. 9, 2023, after being found in Little Sarasota Bay, emaciated and weighing only 260 pounds.

Both males received expert and around-the-clock care at ZooTampa, and by the fall, they were strong enough to be transferred to the Georgia Aquarium to continue their rehab journey.

According to a press release, the aquarium provided “plenty of food and veterinary care until the manatees were big and strong enough to be returned to Florida waters.”

Since Vamo and Burrger are considered to be inexperienced juveniles due to their age and size, the two manatees will be released at TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center, where manatees gather in large numbers and learn to migrate from the power plant’s warm water to other areas as temperatures rise.

On Monday, Tampa Electric announced its manatee viewing center set an “amazing new record” of manatee sightings at one time.

TECO said the center hosted 1,100 manatees at once, smashing the previous record of 850, which was set last winter.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that these aquatic mammals cannot endure temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit for long periods as they can die from cold stress. As water temperatures drop, the gentle giants huddle together to generate warmth.

TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center is free for guests to visit. The center will remain open through April 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. For more information on TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center, visit their website or call 813-228-4289.