This sea cow named Romeo was crowned the oldest manatee ever!

Have you ever seen a manatee?

They are big, gentle animals that live in warm water, and people often call them “sea cows” because they like to slowly munch on plants all day, just like cows eat grass!

They sound like interesting creatures, right?

Well, a West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) called Romeo, who is at least 71 years old as of 2026, has been verified as the oldest manatee EVER.

The senior sea cow is now a resident at the Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island in Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA – and he’s living his best life.

Romeo’s exact date of birth is unknown, but when he was found in the Miami area in 1957 he was described as a “subadult”, which means he must have been between 2-5 years old.

Can you do the maths?

…

That’s right, it means that he is at least 71 in 2026 and, in reality, more likely to be in his mid-70s.

Here you can see him at the now-closed Miami Seaquarium decades ago, when he was still a young manatee:

And here is a photo of him in 2022:

Patrick Berry, President of the Gulfarium said:

“We are so honoured to be caring for Romeo. He has touched so many people and been such an inspiration for ocean conservation for so many years!

“To be able to carry on that legacy for his species with him here at the Gulfarium is such a pleasure.”

Romeo is very loved and even had a girlfriend, Juliet (yes, really!) with whom he had 9 kids!

What a beautiful love story.

And what about Romeo’s personality? He has been described as a laidback, gentle giant. 

He loves grazing along the lettuce forage feeders that rest on the bottom of his habitat, known as Manatee Cove, where he can almost always be found napping promptly at 2 p.m. near his favourite rock, often snuggled up with his best buddy Lil Joe (who is a sprightly 37-year-old manatee).

They also share their home with Inigo, who is estimated to be around 10!

Here you can see Romeo and Lil Joe hanging out:

And in case you’re wondering, his favourite foods are romaine lettuce, apples and small pieces of sweet potato.

So how long do manatees usually live?

While it isn’t unheard of for manatees to live into their 60s, their more typical lifespan is between 30 and 40 years old, so Romeo is about double that!

We love you, Romeo – you are Officially Amazing!