Nineteen manatees were freed after getting trapped in a storm drain in Florida, according to The New Zealand Herald.

Don Hughes, chief of Florida's Satellite Beach Fire Department, said the manatees were safely pulled out from the 36-inch drain pipe on Tuesday, after a 10-hour rescue operation.

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About 60 rescuers were deployed after a call about the trapped manatees was received at 4:00 p.m. Monday. The last manatee was pulled out around 2:00 a.m., the report detailed.

Officials said the mammals possibly swam into the drain in search for warmer water. 

Some of them had scratches and bruises which resulted from friction with the concrete drain pipe.

People gathered around the cordoned area as they watch closely how the manatees were being rescued. Crowds cheered as each manatee was being pulled up from the pipe and released into a nearby pond, the herald relayed.

Experts say manatees do not swim backwards, a reason why they all failed to turn around to get out.

Manatees, also known as sea cows, could measure up to 13 feet long. They are generally solitary animals, except in cases when mother manatees take care of their young.

The sea cows are herbivores which eat about 60 kinds of freshwater and saltwater plants. 

West Indian manatees prefer warmer water and are known to gather in shallow water. They cannot survive cold temperatures such as 15 degrees and below. 

City officials said grates will be installed at the mouths of each pipe to prevent Manatees from entering the drain.

Tagsmanatees, rescue, Florida, storm drain, trapped manatees