Snooty the Manatee turns 68

Manatee County's most popular resident has turned 68 years year. That's a big deal when you are a manatee.

"Every single year he is a year older and that makes him more valuable in terms of how we respect the amount of time he's been with us and just the fact that it gives us more opportunities to talk about manatees as a whole," said Marilyn Margold.

Marilyn Margold is the director of living collections at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton. She's helping Snooty the manatee get ready for his big birthday celebration.

"Because snooty was captive born he is very imprinted on by people he loves to be around people, supervise his staff and thats really his full time job making sure we are doing what we are supposed to be doing," she said.

Snooty holds the Guinness World record for being the world's oldest-known manatee. The friendly manatee was born in 1948 in Miami.

He came to Manatee County when he was only a year old to help celebrate the Desoto celebration.

Since then the South Florida Museum has cared for him. Snooty has also been able to help shed a lot of light on Manatees and their history.

"A lot of things have changed in the 68 years since he has been around of how we perceive things in the environment, endangered species, marine mammals. We have learned a lot in that 68 years and we continue to learn more every day," said Margold.

Snooty's 68th birthday bash starts Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m to 2p.m. It will be held at the South Florida Museum at 201 10th St. W., Bradenton.

There will be outdoor activities, music and of course cake! Snooty's cake will be make up of fruits and vegetables, of course.

Admission is free for outdoor activities and the Museum is offering reduced price admission all day long.