Video shows Florida manatees Romeo and Juliet with plenty of room to swim in new ZooTampa home

Samantha Neely and C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·2 min read

In this version of Romeo and Juliet, they are getting their long awaited happy ending. One filled with lots of fresh lettuce and room to swim around.

The two elderly manatees were transported to ZooTampa after living the Miami Seaquarium for over 60 years, expected to receive round-the-clock care at their new home. Both manatees have moved to the Zoo’s rehabilitation pools and have been socializing with other manatees.

This comes weeks after whistleblowing organization captured a heartbreaking video captured a video of an isolated Romeo in a small aquarium tank. Animal advocacy group UrgentSeas posted the footage on Nov. 13, seeing over 2.3 million likes on TikTok over the next week.

Calls for Miami Seaquarium to provide a better care for the manatees eventually led to their transfer to Tampa.

Where is ZooTampa located?

ZooTampa is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa.

What kind of care have Romeo and Juliet received so far?

After a viral TikTok showcased Miami manatee Romeo alone in a tiny tank, he and his partner, Juliet, have now relocated to ZooTampa for expert care.
After a viral TikTok showcased Miami manatee Romeo alone in a tiny tank, he and his partner, Juliet, have now relocated to ZooTampa for expert care.

ZooTampa’s David A. Straz Manatee Critical Care Center is one of only three centers of its kind in the United States. For nearly three decades, ZooTampa has been a leader in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of critically injured, sick and orphaned manatee.

“It’s going to be a long road, but there is no facility better prepared to address the urgent health needs of these manatees while the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership identifies the best option for their long-term placements,” Dr. Cynthia Stringfield, manatee critical care veterinarian and Senior Vice President of Animal Health, Conservation and Education, said.

While initial blood tests do not reveal any major abnormalities for either Romeo or Juliet, there are aspects of their overall health that are unknown.

“Both animals are over 65 years old,” Stringfield said, “At this age, we always have concerns about cardiac health, which is difficult to evaluate in any manatees due to their size.”

Stringfield noted in the press release that it is uncommon for manatees to be as heavy as Juliet, who is 3,045 pounds. Eating regularly is essential to her overall health, so the ZooTampa team provided supportive care to Juliet, who has not been eating, which is common for manatees after transport.

“As two of the oldest living manatees, Romeo and Juliet deserve the best care possible as they live out their final years,” Stringfield said.

After a viral TikTok showcased Miami manatee Romeo alone in a tiny tank, he and his partner, Juliet, have now relocated to ZooTampa for expert care.
After a viral TikTok showcased Miami manatee Romeo alone in a tiny tank, he and his partner, Juliet, have now relocated to ZooTampa for expert care.

Can I visit Romeo and Juliet in their new home?

Yes, you can! Guests can visit the pair in ZooTampa’s David A. Straz Manatee Critical Care Center. Admission prices for adults is $47.95 and a children's ticket (ages 3 through 11) is $37.95.

To purchase tickets to ZooTampa, click here to visit their website in another browser.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Manatees once cramped in Miami Seaquarium in new Florida home