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Arnhem manatee moves to Madrid

Friday, 7 November 2025

Female manatee aged three years and nine months moved from Royal Burgers' Zoo to Faunia (Madrid) on Tuesday morning, 4 November 2025.

On Tuesday morning, 4 November 2025, a Caribbean manatee left Royal Burgers' Zoo for Faunia (Madrid) in a special shipping crate. The young female, aged 3 years and 9 months, is moving from the Netherlands to Spain as part of the European Population Management Programme (EEP). The Arnhem zoo has been successfully breeding these extraordinary aquatic mammals, which are very particular about their habitat.

Successful French-Danish pairing

The young manatee's father is 23 years and 9 months old and was born at Zoo Beauval, in France. The mother is 12 years old and was born in Odense, Denmark. The young female moving from the Netherlands to Spain was born in the Mangrove at Burgers' Zoo on 30 December 2021. The other calf born to the French and Danish parents will remain at the Arnhem Zoo for the time being.

Under close Spanish supervision

Transporting a manatee requires a specially designed shipping crate. The animal will be transported in water by EKIPA, a specialist in zoo animal transportation. A team from the Spanish zoo Faunia will accompany it, including a veterinarian who will regularly monitor the animal during the journey. An unrelated male and female already live in Madrid. The manatee's chief zookeeper is also travelling from Arnhem to Madrid to ensure the animal's acclimatisation and introduction go as smoothly as possible.

Only 11 EAZA parks with Caribbean manatees

Caribbean manatees are rare in zoos affiliated with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). The animals are rather particular about their habitat and diet. A total of 62 animals live in 11 zoos: 31 males, 29 females and two newborn calves whose sex is not yet known. Burgers' Zoo has been successful with breeding in recent years.

Burgers' Zoo: a long history with manatees

Burgers' Zoo has a long history with Caribbean manatees and has acquired extensive knowledge and expertise on keeping and caring for this extraordinary species. Visitors to the Arnhem Zoo have been able to view to manatees ever since the Bush opened in 1988. The animals were moved to the Mangrove when it opened in 2017, and they can still be admired there today.