A group of stingrays, popular with fans of Major League Baseball team the Tampa Bay Rays, which were moved for their own protection ahead of Hurricane Milton, have been returned to an aquarium in Florida.
The group of seven male cownose stingrays were moved to a tank at the Tropicana Field baseball stadium for safety reasons as the storm closed in.
The sea creatures are now back in their own exhibition space at The Florida Aquarium, officials at the attraction said on Tuesday, which is where they stay during baseball’s off-season.
The stingrays, named for their cow-shaped snouts, are common in the waters around Tampa Bay and would have felt at home at Tropicana Field, as it’s where they stay during the season, having featured there since 2006.
Aquarium staff with the stingrays. Pic: Florida Aquarium/AP
The 37,800 litre touch tank, located above right-centre field of the St Petersburg stadium, is popular with fans of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Although the venue’s fabric roof was destroyed by Milton’s winds, the stingrays were unharmed, and Craig Johnson, the aquarium’s associate curator, said they “handled the storm well”.
“Staff had been able to give on-site care over the past several days and today [Tuesday], we brought them safely back to the aquarium,” he said.
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Hurricane Milton rips away stadium roof
Tropicana Field opened in 1990 at an initial cost of $138m and is due to be replaced in time for the 2028 season. Its roof was designed to withstand winds of up to 115 mph (185 kph), according to the Rays.
The Florida Aquarium was not damaged during Milton, officials said.
Ahead of the storm, penguins and other animals were moved to higher floors, a rescued sea turtle was transferred from an Apollo Beach location to the Tampa aquarium, and thousands of corals were taken to safer places.
Around 170,000 customers were still without electricity after the massive storm crashed into the state bearing 120mph (193km) winds last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday.
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At least 11 people died in the storm, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene inflicted major damage in Florida and other southeastern states, causing more than 240 deaths.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said at least 92 people are still missing in his state from Helene, NBC News, Sky’s US partner, said.
The next baseball game at the venue is not until March, and the team said it will take several weeks to assess the storm damage and decide on repairs.