Chessie: The Long-Distance Swimming Manatee!
Amazing Fact: Chessie holds the world record for the longest migration by a West Indian Manatee, swimming 3,000 miles round trip from Florida to Rhode Island and back!
Meet Chessie: The Adventurous Manatee
Manatees are large aquatic mammals sometimes called “sea cows” because they swim slowly and like to graze on aquatic plants. They are in fact completely herbivorous. There are three species of manatees (West Indian, Amazonian and West African) as well as a closely-related species called the Dugong that lives in the Pacific. They often move between salt water and fresh water to find their favorite foods.
Like dolphins and whales, manatees are mammals and breathe air, so they surface to breathe, take a big breath, and hold their breath while they dive. When they are sleeping on the bottom, they can hold their breath around 20 minutes. But when they are actively swimming and feeding, they tend to breathe every 3-5 minutes.
Manatees prefer shallow water, seldom diving more than 3-4 meters deep.
In Florida, the West Indian (“Caribbean”) Manatee lives at the northern end of their normal range because in the winter, the water can get too cool for them. During the cool months, sometimes manatees swim up rivers and gather at warm springs. But during the summer, they head out into the ocean seeking their favorite foods. They tend to be solitary during this time. While it’s not at all uncommon for Florida manatees to venture as far north as South Carolina in the summer, sometimes manatees may go even further north.
In 1994, a unique manatee changed our understanding of manatee migration by traveling further than any other manatee on record.
Manatee Quick Facts
100% Herbivore
Manatees only eat aquatic plants and grasses
Air Breathers
Surface every 3-5 minutes when active, 20 min when resting
Shallow Divers
Prefer depths of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet)
50-60 Year Lifespan
Long-lived marine mammals
Chessie’s Amazing Journey
Summer 1994
The Discovery
A male manatee swam all the way to the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, much further north than the species is known to travel. Nobody was sure why he did it, so they could only guess that maybe he found something he liked to eat and it got better as he went north. But people couldn’t believe what they were seeing! The celebrity manatee soon became known as “Chessie.”
As summer went on, biologists kept an eye on him, hoping he would start swimming south before the water started getting too cold in the fall. Finally—fearing for his life—biologists captured Chessie, flew him back to the warm waters of Florida, and let him go.
World Record!
Well, wouldn’t you know it, the following summer of 1995, Chessie was back to his old tricks when he took off and headed north again. This time, however, biologists at the National Biological Service’s Sirenia Project office in Gainesville, Florida were ready. They had placed a satellite transmitter “tag” on Chessie so they could follow his movements, and learn from his migration.
As it turns out, Chessie knew what he was doing. In the summer of 1995, he swam all the way up to Point Judith, Rhode Island, setting a world’s record for a West Indian Manatee! He went further north than any other West Indian Manatee in recorded history!
3,000
Miles Round Trip!
When the water started cooling off, he turned around and swam right back down the coast to Florida again. Biologists were amazed when he showed up in Florida in November—after swimming 3,000 miles round trip!
Chessie’s 1995 Journey
Summer 1996
Escape Artist
In 1996, Chessie entered the waters of Georgia along with many other manatees which regularly go there in the summer to feed on saltmarsh grasses. But unlike his buddies, who usually stay in Georgia, Chessie likes to hang out a while and then keep going. He only stayed about 6 days to feed.
He was spotted by several people in Morehead City, NC, who were excited to see the famous manatee swim through their local waters.
On July 17th, Chessie escaped from his satellite transmitter again. (sneaky little guy, isn’t he?). This was the third time Chessie slipped free of his transmitter. Jim Reid, the Sirenia Project biologist said: “We expect that Chessie is fine and continuing his travels north. He is probably continuing his 10-20 mile per day travel rate.”
Winter 1996-1997
Off the Radar
The winter of 1996/1997 was fairly mild, so the manatees did not aggregate as heavily as usual near the warm water springs and rivers in Florida. Because of that, Chessie was not seen during the winter, and he could not be tagged. Dr. Chip Deutsch of the Sirenia Project said: “We haven’t seen him in a while, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t be perfectly fine.”
August 2001
He’s Alive!
After being unseen for several years, Chessie was spotted in August of 2001 in Virginia. A manatee was seen in the waters of Virginia, and photographs of the scar patterns were compared to photos of Chessie from a few years ago. Scar patterns confirmed that Chessie was alive and well and making what was probably his 8th trip to the Chesapeake!
Summer 2011
Still Going Strong!
Chessie went off the radar again for a few years then finally popped up in the summer of 2011 in Maryland! That’s 18 years of long migrations! Chessie is still making his annual commute to his favorite foods up north!
Rescue & Rehab
In 2025, we contacted Cathy Beck (she is featured in the video on this page) at the USGS to ask about Chessie. She informed us that Chessie was rescued in February 2021 at the Riviera Beach Power Plant outfall for buoyancy issues and taken to SeaWorld for rehab. He was released in May 2021 in the Earman River with a radio tag and monitored until April 2022, when he once again escaped from his tracking device! He has not been sighted since. He always has been a stealthy manatee!
Latest Update (2025)
We have been following Chessie’s adventures for 30 years now, but manatees live 50-60 years, so it’s likely we will hear more about his adventures in the years to come!
Chessie has proven himself to be an extraordinary navigator, a record-breaking swimmer, and a master escape artist. His journeys have taught scientists valuable information about manatee migration patterns and capabilities. Whether he’s making his way back north or enjoying the warm waters of Florida, Chessie continues to inspire us all!
Manatee Gallery
This is not Chessie, but a shot of a typical West Indian manatee in Florida.
This is not Chessie, but a shot of a typical West Indian manatee in Florida.
A manatee taking a breath at the surface.
A manatee taking a breath at the surface.
A manatee looking at the camera. Manatees are often quite curious.
A manatee looking at the camera. Manatees are often quite curious.
This is not Chessie, but a shot of a typical West Indian manatee in Florida.
This is not Chessie, but a shot of a typical West Indian manatee in Florida.
A manatee taking a breath at the surface.
A manatee taking a breath at the surface.
A manatee looking at the camera. Manatees are often quite curious.
A manatee looking at the camera. Manatees are often quite curious.
Chessie’s Amazing Stats
30+
Years Being Tracked
3,000
Miles Round Trip (1995)
10-20
Miles Per Day Average
3x
Escaped His Transmitter
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