Community Corner
Happy Birthday, Dear Snooty! Don't Miss Party For Florida's 68-Year-Old Manatee!
And many happy returns to the oldest manatee on record ...
TAMPA BAY, FL – South Florida’s most lovable mascot, Snooty, the world’s oldest living manatee, will celebrate on July 21 celebrate his 68th birthday!
Free to the public is Snooty’s 68th Birthday Bash and Wildlife Festival taking place Saturday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Florida Museum at 201 10th Street West in Bradenton.
The celebration will feature children's games and art activities, free cookies and drinks for the children, a display of Snooty's birthday cards submitted for the card contest and more. And don’t forget to take advantage of the special limited-time only reduced admission to the Museum, Planetarium and Aquarium that will be available all day.
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Just last year, Snooty receiveda nod from Guinness World Records being recognized as the “Oldest Living Manatee in Captivity.”
Deaths of manatees in the wild are typically being documented before 15 years of age, on average, which means Snooty truly is a one-of-a-kind-guy, according to staffers. In short, he’s one of the most renowned stewards for endangered species and the environment, having taught researchers much of what they know about manatees today. And this year, his reigning record-breaking streak will continue as he celebrates his birthday, staff said.
This special guy’s favorite foods include lettuce, carrots, broccoli and sweet potatoes – maybe the secret to his ripe old age! In fact, he eats on average 70 pounds of lettuce and an additional 10 pounds of vegetables each day, according to staffers.
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Even sweeter, his favorite pastime is helping to rehabilitate injured manatees in his home at the South Florida Museum, which serves as a second-stage rehabilitation center for injured manatees. Snooty currently has two manatee pals sharing his pool, staff said.
He was the first recorded birth of a manatee in captivity who weighs in at 1,020 pounds, is 9 feet, 8 inches long and has greeted more than 2 million visitors in his lifetime – and “met” even more on the live online SnootyCam!
For other events coming up in the area, also see:
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