Built in 1999, based on the Everglades, Manatee Springs houses many different species of wildlife from the swamps of Florida. The first section of the building is a greenhouse that simulates the sights and sounds of a freshwater swamp, tropical hammock and coastal mangrove wetlands. The enclosures in the greenhouse are designed to be hidden by the surrounding environment, and are all open-topped to fulfill the natural scenery. Manatee Springs facilities include a greenhouse (304 m²) and an exhibit building (1035 m²). The entire facility (1339 m²) includes 171 m² (1,900 ft²) of staff and support areas and 369m² (4,100 ft²) of filtration equipment space on two levels. The building begins with a humid greenhouse and ventures into the indoors and features many different areas showcasing a wide and diverse collection of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The main attraction of the building a large tank with many gars, carp, and the zoo\'s two manatees that swim in a 120,000 gallon tank. The Cincinnati Zoo is one of only two institutions in America that is part of the Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Program. The zoo has freed eight manatees, including Illusion, a female who went back to the waters of Florida on November 9, 2011.
