The manatee exhibit at The Seas with Nemo & Friends in EPCOT has reopened with two new residents, marking a significant shift in Disney's approach to manatee conservation.
The exhibit, which temporarily closed following the relocation of longtime residents Lil Joe and Inigo, is now part of an expanded short-term rehabilitation program designed to support Florida's growing number of rescued manatees.
A New Chapter in Manatee Care at EPCOT
For decades, Disney's marine care program has housed and cared for manatees needing rehabilitation. Now, in partnership with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Disney has transitioned the program from long-term care to short-term, critical rehabilitation. The goal is to provide temporary care for manatees that have recovered from life-threatening conditions but need additional time to regain strength before returning to the wild.
"As strandings increase, critical care facilities are becoming overwhelmed, so by shifting our focus, we open up space at The Seas for more of those urgent cases," said Dr. Jen, a veterinarian at Walt Disney World. "This helps relieve pressure on overcrowded facilities, supports the MRP's efforts, and boosts our contribution to manatee conservation."
Meet the New Residents
The newly arrived manatees, Cider and Mino, are the first to join the exhibit under this revised rehabilitation model. Their stay at EPCOT will typically last between six to nine months, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild during the cooler winter months when food sources are more abundant.
Disney's Animal Health Director, Dr. Geoff, explained the program's focus:
"Our role begins once critical and acute care has been completed. At that point, we may receive a stable manatee that simply needs some time to grow or gain weight before being released. The hope is that no manatee remains with us for too long — our goal is to ensure they are healthy and strong enough for a successful release back into the wild."
Enhanced Facilities for Manatee Rehabilitation
As part of this transition, The Seas with Nemo & Friends has been optimized to better serve the needs of recovering manatees. The facility includes:
- A medical lift floor, allowing veterinarians to perform necessary health checks such as blood draws and radiographs.
- Access to Disney's on-site veterinary hospital, which features a CT scanner capable of diagnosing internal health issues in manatees.
- A state-of-the-art water filtration system, managed by Disney's Water Sciences team, ensuring optimal water quality for all marine life in the exhibit.
Long-Term Impact of the Program
The shift to short-term critical care aligns with broader efforts to protect Florida's endangered manatee population. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 2,000 manatee deaths were recorded in Florida due to habitat loss, food scarcity, and environmental threats such as red tide. While 2024 has shown some improvement, manatee calf mortality remains a concern, particularly in areas like Brevard County's Indian River Lagoon.
"In rehabilitation, success isn't just about releasing animals — it's about seeing them thrive once they're back in the wild," Dr. Geoff said. "That's what I love about the manatee program: they track the animals long-term. With manatees, we get to see months later that they're still out there thriving. That's the true measure of success for us."
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