FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — A new addition to the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach.
The Gulfarium recently welcomed Romeo, the oldest known manatee.
"Manatees live to be 50 to 60 years of age, and we know him to be 70 and over, so we’re excited to be taking care of him," Gulfarium CEO Patrick Berry said.
Gulfarium visitors got an up-close look at the gentle giant during Friday’s Manatee Chat.
Berry said Romeo has acclimated well to Gulfarium’s Manatee Cove with his new buddies, Inigo and Lil Joe.
Romeo comes to the Gulfarium from Tampa where he was receiving around-the-clock care.
"It was decided to bring him here, so he can be with two other manatees that are conditionally nonreleasable; these two guys and all three of them probably won’t be going back out into the wild anytime s