Tragic Death of Florida Manatee Linked to Intense Intrafamily Encounter

A 38-year-old manatee named Hugh died in April after sustaining a 14.5-centimeter rip in his colon during a sexual encounter with his brother, Buffett, at the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Florida. The necropsy revealed traumatic injuries caused by the encounter, and a fecal sample confirmed the presence of fresh blood. Despite the injuries, employees allowed the brothers to continue engaging in "high-intensity interactions and occasional penetration" throughout the day. The heightened sexual activity between the two brothers had been ongoing for months, and handlers claim it was consensual and "natural" mating behavior. The aquarium maintains that they followed protocol and veterinarian advice, but critics argue that intervention should have occurred to prevent the fatal outcome.