The manatee that was spotted in Rhode Island waters last month has been found dead offshore, according to officials from Mystic Aquarium. The animal's death was confirmed by a boater who took photos of the body between Prudence Island and Hog Island and sent them to the aquarium. The manatee was last seen alive on September 18 in Warren and appeared healthy at the time. The aquarium had a plan in place to rescue the manatee if it was spotted again. The cause of death is unknown due to the condition of the body, but the aquarium hopes to collect samples if the carcass is found again.
A manatee was spotted eating grass on a flooded lawn in Florida after Hurricane Idalia passed through the area. A video captured the moment, showing the manatee taking advantage of the flooded property.
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.
New records reveal that the death of Hugh, a beloved 38-year-old manatee at Mote Marine Aquarium in Florida, could have been prevented. The necropsy report shows that Hugh died from a 14.5-centimeter rip in his colon and other traumatic injuries sustained during a sexual encounter with another male manatee at the facility. The United States Department of Agriculture found that the aquarium failed to handle Hugh properly, resulting in his death. Mote Marine is appealing the findings and maintains that they followed professional standards and practices. This incident raises concerns about animal care and follows the preventable death of another beloved manatee, Snooty, in the same region in 2017.
A manatee named Hugh died at a Florida aquarium due to fatal injuries sustained during a sexual encounter with his brother, Buffett. The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium stated that the heightened mating behavior between the two manatees was observed for the first time. A necropsy revealed a 14.5 cm tear in Hugh's colon. The aquarium's keepers did not physically separate the manatees during sex, opting for distraction techniques instead. Experts explain that manatees are not selective about their partners and will engage in sexual behavior with any available individual.
