Wednesday, Feb. 1, Mote’s resident manatees, Hugh and Buffett, predicted the winner of the Super Bowl for the 10th year in a row.
So, who will win the big game? Well, it depends on who you ask. Buffett, who has the better record, predicts that the Atlanta Falcons will win while Hugh predicts the New England Patriots will win.
“Again, this year we have a house divided,” said Kat Boerner, Manatee Research Supervisor. “Buffett knew exactly who he wanted to pick and went straight for the Atlanta Falcons. Hugh was a little undecided, but ultimately chose the New England Patriots.”
Also, Hugh and Buffett are highly trained in behaviors that support their care.
“The training we focus on in our manatee exhibit revolves around husbandry behaviors, which help facilitate veterinary care, and research,” Boerner said. “By having the manatees trained to go to targets, we are able to maneuver them around the exhibit and ask them for a variety of behaviors. This helps during veterinary procedures and during our research training sessions, which focus on manatee senses. The Super Bowl predictions are much like target training; we place a square PVC structure in the exhibit with a photo of each of the teams competing in the Super Bowl. Hugh and Buffett take it from there to touch one of the two team logos.”
Buffett has accurately predicted the Super Bowl winner eight of nine times and Hugh has been right five of nine times.
Here is a record of Hugh and Buffett’s Super Bowl winner picks:
| Year | Winner | vs | Buffett’s Pick | Hugh’s Pick |
| 2017 | ? | ? | Atlanta Falcons | New England Patriots |
| 2016 | Denver Broncos | Carolina Panthers | Denver | Carolina |
| 2015 | New England Patriots | Seattle Seahawks | New England | Seattle |
| 2014 | Seattle Seahawks | Denver Broncos | Denver | Seattle |
| 2013 | Baltimore Ravens | San Francisco 49ers | Baltimore | Baltimore |
| 2012 | New York Giants | New England Patriots | New York | New York |
| 2011 | Green Bay Packers | New York Giants | Green Bay | New York |
| 2010 | New Orleans Saints | Indianapolis Colts | New Orleans | Indianapolis |
| 2009 | Pittsburg Steelers | Arizona Cardinals | Pittsburg | Pittsburg |
| 2008 | New York Giants | New England Patriots | New York Giants | New York Giants |
Super Bowl LI will take place at 6:30 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 5, in Houston, Texas.
More about Hugh and Buffett
Hugh and Buffett are the world’s most extensively trained manatees. Training not only helps their care run smoothly; it also allows them to participate in innovative research about how they use their senses, such as hearing and touch to survive, and about their physiology. Mote’s research is designed to help resource managers protect these endangered mammals.
