Manatee dies after ‘high-intensity sexual behavior' with brother at Florida aquarium Hugh was born at the Miami Seaquarium and went to Mote Marine in 1996 from ZooTampa By Monica Galarza • Published July 27, 2023 • Updated on July 27, 2023 at 4:40 pm Spoiler A manatee died at a Florida aquarium in late April, and following a full pathology and necropsy report, there are new developments as to the possible cause of the mammal's sudden death. According to the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida, the resident manatee, Hugh, died unexpectedly on April 29th after showing changes in his behavior until he suddenly became unresponsive in his habitat. According to a statement following his passing, the aquarium said the manatee and his brother Buffett, were the world's only manatees to participate in voluntary, detailed behavioral research designed to aid manatee conservation. But after a necropsy, or animal autopsy, and a full pathology performed by FWC's Fish and Wildlife research Institute's Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab, it was determined that Hugh died from a 14.5 centimeter rip in his colon and other traumatic injuries caused by a sexual encounter with another, larger, male manatee at the facility, Buffett. The necropsy report findings were published by the United States Department of Agriculture. According to the aquarium, this was the first time such heightened mating behavior was witnessed between the two manatees. Every year, however, like other male manatees Hugh and Buffett would "exhibit approximately two months of seasonal behavioral changes including, but not limited to, an increase in sexual behavior," Mote Marine said. The aquarium said the manatees were under heightened observation throughout the day and the animal care team was in constant close communications with the attending veterinarians throughout the day. Although they were observed initiating and mutually seeking interactions from each other throughout the day, there were no obvious signs of discomfort or distress such as listing, crunching, or active avoidance that would have triggered a need for intervention. Following the direction of the vets, distraction rather than physical separation was chosen because separation has previously caused undue anxiety and negative effects in both manatees. In an effort to redirect the manatees’ attention and decrease undesirable behaviors, the aquarium said animal care staff used positive reinforcement tools that had previously been successful. Hugh was born at the Miami Seaquarium and went to Mote Marine in 1996 from ZooTampa. He was 38 years old. it was determined that Hugh died from a 14.5 centimeter rip in his colon and other traumatic injuries caused by a sexual encounter with another, larger, male manatee at the facility, Buffett.
There's a passage from Moby Dick where the whalers are slicing blubber off the top of the dead whale while the sharks are feasting from below, and Melville/Ishmael opines that if you turned the whale upside down there wouldn't be much difference because it was a sharkish business all around
I am only a four hour drive to her new home in Springfield, CO. I will bust her out. Or at least sneak her some honeybuns
I know an old lady Who swallowed a rhinosaurus Isn't that preposterous! To swallow a rhinosaurus She swallowed a rhinosaurus To catch the minister She swallowed the minister To catch the goat She swallowed the goat To catch the dog She swallowed the dog To catch the cat She swallowed the cat To catch the bird And she swallowed a bird To catch the spider That wiggled and jiggled And tickled inside her And she swallowed the spider To catch the fly But I don't know why She swallowed the fly - I guess she'll die!
Best clear look at a Thresher Shark I’ve ever seen. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwGQYjuJb34/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== They are close to extinction. “Thresher sharks are named for their long, scythe-like tail, which they use to swat and stun fish before preying on them.”
Just got back from Banff a few weeks ago and the fines in Canada for approaching wild life in parks in $25,000. They don’t fuck around. Surprised we don’t have similar.
Ours is like a $500 fine and $500 donation but they rarely prosecute it. You would think the threat of being gored and tossed 30 feet in the air would be enough of a deterrent.
I was told in Africa that Botswana has by far the best African safaris. The reason? They instituted the death penalty for poaching. Should do the same for dumb tourists. Cull the herd.