One manatee and three dolphins that call Walt Disney World home will soon be relocated out of their habitats in The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, according to a report from the Orlando Sentinel.
One Manatee and Three Dolphins Being Relocated from The Seas
The manatee Lou will be moved to another manatee rehabilitation center on Wednesday, September 11. After the relocation, another manatee will be relocated to EPCOT as a companion to Lil Joe, another manatee currently living at The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
While we will greatly miss Lou, we do look forward to aiding this other manatee in the next stage of rehabilitation as we continue to do our part in addressing the manatee crisis in Florida, which as seen declining manatee populations in the past few years.
Statement from Walt Disney World
According to the Sentinel, this change is being done “as part of a broader set of manatee moves around the state,” as recommended by the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
The trio of male dolphins living at The Seas will be moved to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach in late October.
This decision came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at the seas.
Walt Disney World in a statement
The two-hour backstage tour “Dolphins in Depth,” as well as DiveQuest experiences will continue to be offered through October 19. DiveQuest is expected to return in 2025, according to Disney.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends is located in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT, and offers a “Finding Nemo”-themed dark ride. In the pavilion, guests can find a 5.7-million-gallon aquarium filled with fish and sharks, and plenty of opportunities to learn more about marine biology.
Are you sad to see Lou the manatee and the three dolphins leave The Seas? Are you a regular visitor to the pavilion at EPCOT? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments and on social media.
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