Lou the Manatee and Three Dolphins are Leaving The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT

Hi everyone!

Lou the Manatee and three dolphins are leaving The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. Lou will be leaving tomorrow, September 11th and the three dolphins will be moving in late October.

Lou is being relocated to another manatee rehabilitation center in Florida and the trio of dolphins will be moved to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Florida.

Disney says these changes are made with “careful thought, prioritizing the wellbeing of these sensitive marine mammals”. They are working with other manatee experts, including the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS) in relocating Lou. Another manatee will arrive soon after that to be a companion to Lil Joe, which is the other manatee in the care of Disney.

Disney states, “This is being done as part of a broader set of manatee moves around the state recommended by the MRP and USFWS which directs and manages the rehabilitation and conservation of manatees throughout Florida.”. Disney will continue to help address the manatee crisis in Florida.

On the other hand, the three dolphins will be relocated and it sounds like we won’t see dolphins back in the pavilion again. The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Florida is led by a marine mammal expert who cared for dolphins at The Seas for years. There is planned infrastructure work for The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and current reservations for Dolphins in Depth and DiveQuest experiences will be honored through October 19th, 2024. DiveQuest is expected to return in 2025.

Disney says, “Our commitment to conservation and care for animals remains at the core of what we do, and the Cast Members who care for these marine mammals and other sea life will remain at The Seas continuing to focus on key species and conservation initiatives represented in the pavilion.”