Disney World Removes Manatees to Shift Focus on Short-Term Rehabilitation. In October 2024, Disney Conservation announced a few upcoming changes at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot, moving away from long-term care of sea life, and shifting focus to short-term care. The Manatee Lou was sent to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, and a new sea potato named Inego joined Lil Joe here at Epcot. Disney has again moved around some of the wildlife at SeaBase at the Manatee Rehabilitation located on levels 1 and 2.
Now, a short 3 months later Lil Joe and Inego have been removed from the Manatee tank in The Seas and sent to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. Speaking with Cast Members they mentioned Disney will be taking on short-term care for manatees. Guests can expect not to become too used to seeing the same manatees all the time since Disney will be moving rehabilitated manatees to either the long-term care facilities or hopefully to be released back into the wild.
On October 20th, Disney stopped doing DiveQuest for some time, Disney Dolphin in Depth was permanently removed, and the 3 dolphins were moved to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach. The changes are part of the overall recommendations from the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
“For decades, Walt Disney World has provided extraordinary care for thousands of fish and marine mammals – including dolphins and manatees that have served as ambassadors for their species, inspiring us about marine mammals and aiding in conservation and research efforts. As we look to the future of The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, we are making some changes that require careful thought, prioritizing the wellbeing of these sensitive marine mammals,” Disney said
Furthermore, at The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion, there are walls up around the UP escalator that stretch to the viewports of the aquarium.
Manatees at Walt Disney World Resort
Relatively solitary animals, West Indian manatees float through tropical and subtropical estuaries, tranquil rivers, and coastal waters in search of food and warm water sources. They’re native to the East Coast of the United States, Central America, and South America.
You can see the West Indian manatee at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. Over the years, injured manatees have taken up residence at SeaBase for rehabilitation following near-fatal boat strikes that impeded their ability to survive in the wild. Others arrived to stabilize after experiencing cold stress.
Home Away From Home: Most manatees at The Seas Pavilion are here for a temporary stay. They’re carefully monitored and expertly cared for—to be returned to the wild after an appropriate amount of rest, recovery, and rehabilitation.
Here’s an inside look at the lives of these manatees:
- Prepped for Takeoff: To ensure that the instincts of visiting manatees remain intact for their eventual release, manatee training is minimal. The training they do receive allows them to participate in their own recovery and makes it easier for Disney animal care experts to monitor each manatee’s progress.
- Keeping Track: Even after they are released, these mighty mammals are carefully tracked and monitored to ensure that they are migrating and socializing as they should be.
- “Lettuce” Eat: The manatees at The Seas Pavilion enjoy the same high-quality produce that’s served to our Guests! They eat nearly 100 heads of lettuce a day—a food that’s similar to the floating plants they consume in the wild. While this lettuce offers all the nutrients they need, additional foods like carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes are incorporated into their diet as a form of enrichment.
Disney Conservation: Saving Manatees
West Indian manatees face several threats, including watercraft strikes, pollution, and loss of groundwater due to human activities. The Walt Disney Company is committed to saving wildlife and protecting the magic of nature together as a global community. The Disney Conservation Fund* supports organizations and communities working to protect spaces for people and wildlife across manatee habitats around the world.
