A rescued manatee has returned to her winter home, Kings Bay, at Three Sisters Springs.

The manatee has been recuperating at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo since being rescued in November.

She had to have her injured flipper removed after getting entangled in a crab trap line.

“It could have led to a bad, bad infection that may have led to death,” said Ivan Vicente, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

She was discovered on Gator Hole, the largest of the springs within the Magnolia Springs complex, adjacent to the Three Sisters Springs property, and given the name ‘Gator.’

Since the incident, doctors say the manatee has fully adapted to swim without the flipper in captivity and has healthily regained weight.

“She has done very well,” said Virginia Edmonds, Lowry Park Zoo animal care manager. “She ate for us, which is huge, and it is just like people, you eat, you heal better, so she was a good eater and put some weight on and we’re happy to let her go.”

‘Gator’ was carried to the edge of the water and then slowly swam away.

“We’re excited when we can release them back to the wild but it is always bitter sweet,” Edmonds said.