One of world’s oldest known manatees ‘Juliet’ passes away at ZooTampa

TAMPA, Fla. – Juliet, one of the world’s oldest known living manatees, passed away Sunday at the age of 65 at ZooTampa at Lowry Park, according to officials.

“Juliet was a beloved animal, who captured the hearts of many worldwide. We would be contacted frequently by animal care professionals, veterinarians and even the general public who credit her for instilling their passion for these gentle sea cows,” Zoo Tampa’s Senior Vice President of Animal Health, Conservation, and Education Dr. Cynthia Stringfield said. “Our thoughts are with the entire manatee community and the teams who for more than six decades have cared for her.”

ZooTampa added Juliet left behind a “worldwide legacy for manatee conservation and education.”

According to ZooTampa, Juliet recently underwent a routine medical assessment where she exhibited health issues likely related to her advanced age. In particular, the manatee’s weight declined suddenly before passing away.

Stringfield noted Juliet, along with another manatee named Romeo, were transferred to ZooTampa for urgent medical evaluations at the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Center in December. The facility is one of four critical centers in the U.S. for the advanced care of critically injured, sick and orphaned manatees.

“When Juliet arrived at the zoo there were many aspects of her overall health that were unknown. She was an unusually large animal, weighing 3,045 pounds and her age was estimated at over 65 years old, making her one of the oldest known manatees,” Stringfield said.

While captivated, Juliet and Romeo successfully adapted to the Zoo’s rehabilitation pools and were socializing with other manatees. Stringfield added Romeo continues to thrive at the zoo.

Florida manatees are large, aquatic mammals native to Florida. However, they’ve been discovered as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts during the summer months.

During the winter, manatees typically reside in Florida, as they require warm water to survive.

They are commonly recognized by their finely-wrinkled, leathery looking skin that often flakes off. Manatees also have two fore limb flippers used for steering, which help it hold vegetation while eating. Additionally, their large, round, flattened paddle-shaped tail is used for swimming.

The manatee, sometimes referred to as the Sea Cow, typically grow between 9-10 feet long while weighing 1,000 pounds. Although, they have been know to reach over 13 feet long, and similar to Juliet, weigh 3,500 pounds.

ZooTampa noted a necropsy will be performed on Juliet’s death.