Walt Disney World is working to transition its manatee facility work from permanent care to short-term, critical care. Disney works alongside Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide lifesaving care and assistance back into the wild. EPCOT, home of The Seas with Nemo & Friends, has begun its journey to offer this new form of care to better assist Florida’s wildlife needs.
“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, veterarian 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.”
One of the best parts of the visit was seeing the genuine love and excitement the Disney team has for these creatures.
“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… pic.twitter.com/wITjxAeZH9
— Everything You Need To Know (@EYNTKinfo) February 10, 2025
This can also mean that even more daily guests visiting EPCOT will have the chance to learn about these endangered animals and what needs to be done to protect them. Short-term care can allow more manatees some time in the limelight, as Lil Joe had for so long.
Aquarium at EPCOT
These manatees are one of numerous species inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. This 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium hosts dolphins, clownfish, sharks and more. Guests can enter via the gift shop, or ride in on The Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction.
“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.”
Manatees aren’t the only recent change at EPCOT! The tigers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park have also had a major change – a new baby named, Bakso. With the addition of Bakso, and the change of manatee facility care at EPCOT, guests visiting Walt Disney World should be able to see new creatures more often than ever.
If you want to learn more about baby Bakso (which is Indonesian for “meatball,” how cute) you can check out our recent article and debut video.
