Manatee Rescued, En Route To Florida

BOSTON -- A wayward manatee found in cold, Cape Cod waters has been rescued and is en route to Florida, according to officials.

The manatee was trapped in a net and scooped out of the water on Saturday and is now being transported across the country in a climate-controlled truck. The trip is expected to take 20 hours.

The manatee was hypoglycemic and had a low body temperature, and may not have lived through another day in the chilly Massachusetts waters, rescuers said.

Manatees are normally found off Georgia and Florida and aren't used to cold water. If they get too cold, they stop eating.

Wildlife experts say the Cape Cod manatee became lethargic and was suffering the early stages of cold shock.