All about Hugh and Buffett . . .

Hugh

Hugh was born at Miami Seaquarium. He has never been released to the wild and has lived in various marine aquariums throughout the state of Florida, including Homossassa State Park and Lowry Park Zoo. Here at Mote Marine Laboratory, you will notice that Hugh is a very active manatee, swimming most of the day, at times even while eating! This high activity level is probably the reason why Hugh, who is three years older than Buffett, actually weighs about 300 kg (660 lbs) less! This high amount of activity, in addition to the presence of two small scars on his right shoulder (results of two abscesses that were surgically removed) makes Hugh easily recognizable. Although Hugh interacts with many Environmental Enrichment Devices that are placed in the exhibit throughout the day, it appears that his favorite is an ice-float, loaded with apples, carrots, and kale!

Buffett

Buffett was also born at Miami Seaquarium, has never been released to the wild, and has lived at Homossassa State Park and Lowry Park Zoo. Buffett is a slow-moving manatee. Prior to initiating a Husbandry and Research Training Program with the manatees here at Mote Marine Laboratory, Buffett's main source of exercise was rising to the water's surface to get a head of romaine lettuce, and then sinking again to eat it. Once the daily training program was developed, Buffett's activity and exercise level increased. Buffett also interacts with many Environmental Enrichment Devices throughout the day, however he spends a large amount of time looking out of the underwater viewing windows at the guests who visit Mote Marine Laboratory!

Diet

Like all manatees, Hugh and Buffett are herbivores. Their daily ration of food includes 120 heads of romaine lettuce, 12 bunches of kale, and a variety of treats used during training sessions, such as baby carrots, beets, and apples! (Whew! That's a lot of salad!) They also take 3 multivitamins every day which is hidden in their favorite snack, monkey chow. Hugh and Buffett are able to grab and manipulate their foods with their very flexible lips and pectoral flippers.