BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Snooty, the longest living manatee in captivity, has died one day after a huge party to celebrate his 69th birthday.
The South Florida Museum posted a cryptic Facebook post Sunday revealing that the beloved manatee died in a heartbreaking accident. No other details were given about the cause of death, but the museum said they were devastated and that the circumstances are being investigated.
Snooty had been in good health, eating about 80 pounds of lettuce and vegetables every day to sustain his 1,000 pound body. He loved to greet his visitors and ham it up for the cameras.
Snooty was born in Miami and has never lived in the wild.