Recovering manatees join Snooty

Two male manatees have joined Manatee County’s famed manatee, Snooty, at the South Florida Museum.
The museum welcomed Longo and Cheeno from the Lowry Park Zoo, where they had been treated and rehabilitated for cold stress Feb. 28.

Longo was rescued in January 2012 off Longboat Key. He currently weighs 675 pounds and is 7 feet, 3 inches long. Cheeno was rescued in February 2012 in the Caloosahatchee River. He currently weighs 465 pounds and is 6 feet, 7 inches long.

“Snooty is happy to welcome both Longo and Cheeno into his home here at the South Florida Museum,” said East County resident and museum Executive Director Brynne Anne Besio. “We are happy to be a safe place for them to grow a bit more before their release next winter.”

One of the museum’s manatee-care staff members, Aarin Allen, participated in Longo’s rescue last year.
Manatee fans can check on Snooty and the new manatees by using the museum’s “Snooty Cam” at southfloridamuseum.org/theaquarium/snootycam.aspx.