Snooty: The life of the world’s longest-living manatee in captivity

July 21, 1948: Snooty is born on The Prinz Valdemar, a Danish warship that capsized in the Miami harbor in 1926 and later became a floating restaurant and the Miami Aquarium Tackle Company.

1949: ‘Baby Snoots’ comes to Bradenton for the Desoto Celebration.

1966: Snooty moves to the newly constructed South Florida Museum.

1979: Manatee County Commissioners declare Snooty to be the county’s official mascot.

1982: Snooty gains even wider fame when the children’s television show, Captain Kangaroo, films him as part of a documentary on manatees.

1985: A hydrophone placed in Snooty’s tank reveals for the first time the high-pitched squeaks as Snooty’s vocalization.

1987: Snooty begins training to aid researchers trying to determine how well manatees hear at different frequencies.

1993: Snooty moves into his newest home, a 60,000-gallon exhibit in the newly constructed Parker Manatee Aquarium.

1998: The Parker Manatee Aquarium joins the Manatee Rehabilitation Network and is introduced to his first tank mate, Newton. During his life, Snooty hosted 33 rehabilitating manatees.

2008: Snooty celebrates his 60th birthday at his annual Birthday Bash and Wildlife Festival. His life history makes him one of the most renowned stewards for endangered species and the environment.

2013: More than 6,000 guests visit the South Florida Museum to celebrate Snooty’s historic 65th birthday. It’s the largest crowd in the museum’s history.

2015: Snooty is officially certified as the world’s oldest captive manatee by Guiness World Records.

July 22, 2017: Snooty enjoys a birthday cake of fruits and vegetables at his 69th birthday celebration.

July 23, 2017: The South Florida Museum announces that Snooty has died in a tragic accident.

This story was originally published July 23, 2017 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Snooty: The life of the world’s longest-living manatee in captivity."