Disney Shares How EPCOT Is Changing Its Role in Manatee Conservation
Last week, we shared the exciting news that two new manatees had arrived at EPCOT’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion.
Named Cider and Mino, the new manatees’ arrival came just one month after Disney relocated the pavilion’s former residents, Lil Joe and Inigo.
At the time, we explained that the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services recommended the animals’ relocation. The goal is to continue strengthening the manatee population in Florida.
Now, Disney has shared more information about the reasons behind the manatee shake-up.
The Seas Will Focus on Short-Term Critical Care
In collaboration with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Disney is transitioning The Seas from a long-term permanent manatee care residency to a short-term critical care facility.
Photo: Disney
Going forward, The Seas will be one of the several nationwide facilities focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing manatees into the wild.
A Manatee Crisis
As many of you may already know, manatees are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Unfortunately, between 2020 and 2022, more than 2,000 manatee deaths were recorded in Florida, which caused the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare an Unusual Mortality Event.
Photo: Disney
One major reason for the large number of manatee deaths was the decline of the animal’s natural seagrass habitat. While mortality numbers improved in 2024, more calves died. Additionally, more than half of the fatalities were recorded in Brevard County’s Indian River Lagoon.
With the increase in manatee deaths, critical-care facilities across Florida were quickly overwhelmed. That is why Disney is jumping into action.
“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, which is what excites me most about shifting from long-term care to short-term rehabilitation.”
The Seas Is Uniquely Equipped to Care For Manatees
As The Seas with Nemo & Freinds has been optimized for manatee rehabilitation, Disney is in a unique position to help.
The facility has several specialized features to aid the rehabilitation process, including a medial lift floor that allows veterinarians to perform blood draws and radiographs when needed. Additionally, an on-site veterinary hospital at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a CT machine.
This plays a crucial role in caring for the manatees.
Photo: Disney
“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, typically during the winter months. In other cases, we provide specialized care and expertise to help the manatee recover,” explained Dr. Geoff, Disney’s Animal Health Director.
“The hope is that no manatee remains with us for too long — usually no more than six to nine months. Our goal is to ensure they are healthy and strong enough for a successful release back into the wild during the winter periods.”
Photo: Disney
Finally, The Seas is equipped with an advanced water system managed by Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment’s Water Sciences team. This group, comprised of divers and chemists, ensures the animals have the highest quality water.
More Manatees Will Call The Seas Home
With The Seas now serving as a short-term care facility, guests will see more manatees cycle through the pavilion. According to Disney, this will also include juvenile manatees who need care.
Photo: Disney
“In rehabilitation, success isn’t just about releasing animals — it’s about seeing them thrive once they’re back in the wild. That’s what I love about the manatee program: they track the animals long-term. With other species, you release them and often times you never know what happens next. But with manatees, we get to see, months later, that they’re still out there thriving. That’s the true measure of success for us,” Dr. Geoff concluded.
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