Juliet, a manatee that lived at Miami Seaquarium, dies at ZooTampa

TAMPA, Fla. – Juliet, a manatee that lived at Miami Seaquarium, was found dead on Sunday in Tampa, according to the ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

In a statement, Dr. Cynthia Stringfield, of ZooTampa, described Juliet as one of the oldest known manatees in the world and reported she had died overnight after suffering from “health issues likely related to her advanced age.”

Veterinarians moved Romeo and Juliet from the Miami Seaquarium to rehabilitation pools at the ZooTampa at Lowry Park in December to get treated at The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center.

“She was an unusually large animal, weighing 3,045 pounds, and her age was estimated at over 65 years old,” Stringfield said about Juliet

According to Stringfield, Romeo and Juliet had adapted to the environment and were socializing with other manatees. Stringfield said they were performing an autopsy.

“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,” Stringfield said. “Our thoughts are with the entire manatee community and the teams who for more than six decades have cared for her.”