Region Report By Seth Skydel ZooTampa
Uplifting Solution
At ZooTampa, a Shuttlelift SCD09 Carrydeck Crane Is Supporting Manatee Rehab and Daily Care
Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Florida manatee faces threats from a loss of habitat, toxins, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with boats and disturbance by swimmers and divers. At ZooTampa, however, a highly successful manatee care and rehabilitation program is helping the marine mammals survive and prosper.
At the zoo’ s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, Florida manatees are getting a much-needed lift from a Shuttlelift SCD09 carrydeck crane, which is used to provide crucial services. ZooTampa purchased the SCD09 to replace an older 8.5-ton Shuttlelift 3330E crane that served the program’ s staff for over 20 years.
“ We need to weigh the animals regularly to monitor whether they’ re gaining enough weight,” related Molly Lippincott, curator of Florida manatees at ZooTampa.“ On average, manatees weigh about 1,500 pounds, and can move quickly when they want, so it’ s important that we do what’ s best for them. We would not be able to function without this crane.”
On average, ZooTampa admits 30 to 35 manatees each year. With its staff on call 24 / 7 to receive stricken animals, the Shuttlelift SCD09 is of vital importance for ensuring timely treatment, explained Lisa Dijenno, animal care supervisor at the zoo. For example, the crane is used to carefully handle stretchers containing the vulnerable creatures whenever they need medical care and rehabilitation.
“ Without the crane, we wouldn’ t be able to get the manatees out of the transport truck into their pool when they first arrive, or from there into the medical facility,” Dijenno said.“ The pools are elevated above the ground, so we obviously can’ t lift them by hand. Then, when they’ re ready for release, we need the crane to get them from the pool into the transport truck.”
Given the small number of crane operators who switch to a career in zookeeping, several of the ZooTampa staff have received
At ZooTampa, the Rated Capacity Limiter( RCL) system on the SCD09 conveniently displays the calculated load of large and small manatees on a full-color, graphical display.
training and National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators( NCCCO) certification.“ We learned a lot with the 3330E over the years, but Sims Crane, our local Shuttlelift dealer, has made sure that we know everything about properly operating the crane,” Dijenno said.
“ But a lot of what we do isn’ t really something that can be taught,” added Lippincott.“ So, we’ ve spent a lot of time working to figure out the best way to handle a manatee to
The Shuttlelift SCD09 crane’ s compact dimensions and multiple steering modes make it easy to maneuver in tight quarters.
ensure its well-being. Having a wild animal on the front of a crane can be dangerous, so we usually meet as a team beforehand to discuss how we’ re going to move them, and what our backup plan will be if it goes wrong.”
With so much at stake, and with manatees in different stages of rehabilitation at the ZooTampa facility, the easy operation of the SCD09— enabled by features such as the Rated Capacity Limiter( RCL) system, automotive-style dash panel and
10 CRANE HOT LINE ® November 2024 • www. cranehotline. com