A Manatee Hospital on a Bayamón University Campus

The Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center was set up in 2009 as a partnership between the nonprofit Red Caribeña de Varamientos (Caribbean Stranding Network) and Inter American University of Puerto Rico. It runs Puerto Rico's manatee stranding response, veterinary rehabilitation, population research and community outreach. Its three tanks hold 5,800, 16,000 and 31,000 gallons; the smallest is for orphaned calves, and the largest is the permanent home of two Florida manatees that act as substitute parents before Puerto Rican manatees are released. Calves such as Tureygua and Mabo, rescued in 2015 and 2016 after losing their mothers, were rehabilitated on site before release. The center also runs annual teacher workshops for Caribbean Manatee Conservation Week and published a bilingual children's manatee book that won a 2026 Green Earth Book Award.