SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is set to reopen after back-to-back hurricanes and welcomes a new occupant to the facility.

Lou, a large adult male Florida manatee weighing 2,100 pounds, was transferred to Mote in a specialized manatee transport vehicle.

Mote’s veterinary, hospital, and animal care teams followed a phased introduction plan, reviewed and approved by the USFWS and partner organizations, as Lou became acquainted with his tankmate, Buffett .

Buffett was born under the human care of the Miami Seaquarium and would likely not survive outside of human care.

Last year, Buffett’s brother, Hugh, was killed while riding in the tank with Buffett. The autopsy report says Hugh died from a 14.5-centimeter tear in his colon caused by sex with Buffett.

Hugh was born at the Miami Seaquarium and arrived in Mote from ZooTampa on May 2, 1996, where he served as an ambassador for his species and regularly and voluntarily participated in manatee research studies.

The teams worked to acclimate Buffett and Lou and say everything went well.

Lou was rescued in December 2000 following a serious collision with a boat, resulting in the loss of most of his tail. Based on Ten Years of Florida Manatee autopsy reports reviewed by FWCone in four adult carcasses shows traces of 10 or more collisions with boats.

“Mote is pleased to welcome Lou to our family and announce this important step toward providing the best possible care to Lou and Buffett,” said Dr. Crosby. “Both manatees are doing well thanks to the collaborative effort of Mote’s incredibly dedicated and experienced team of veterinary, hospital and animal care professionals, as well as our partners including the USFWS, FWC and the MRP.”

PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, released a statement confirming Mote’s actions.

“With several agencies and experts in marine mammals overseeing the introduction of a new manatee into the Buffet enclosure, PETA hopes that everyone involved will work hard to ensure that the top priority is the health and safety of the two manatees,” the statement read.

You can visit Mote, starting Friday, from 9:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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