At the beginning of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, dolphins say “So long, and thanks for all the fish” before departing the planet Earth. Soon, three dolphins that have been living in The Seas with Nemo & Friends will be saying so long to EPCOT before departing for the last time.
It was announced this week that some changes are coming to The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. First off, the three dolphins, that have been at what was known as The Living Seas when it originally opened, will be leaving EPCOT for good.
“As we look to the future of The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot, we are making some changes that require careful thought, prioritizing the wellbeing of these sensitive marine mammals,” Disney told cast members in a memo. It continues by saying, “We are planning to permanently relocate three dolphins in late October to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Florida which is accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums and the International Marine Animals Trainer’s Association. The facility is led by a marine mammal expert who cared for the dolphins for years at The Seas.”
The decision to move these dolphins “came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas.” Information was determined with the “extraordinary care from our team” to ensure that “these three male dolphins have thrived and led long lives and we will continue to be a resource while they receive the best possible care after they are moved.”
It was also revealed that Lou, one of EPCOT’s popular manatees, will be leaving Walt Disney World Resort as well. Lou departs today and will be replaced by another manatee to join Little Joe. Disney said it is looking “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 has seen declining manatee populations in the past few years.”
The message concludes by saying, “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.”
The departure of these animals will impact some of the offerings at The Seas, particularly Epcot’s DiveQuest. Reservations through October 19th will be honored by Disney. The experience will be returning sometime in 2025.
The Living Seas originally opened at EPCOT in 1986. It was rethemed to The Living Seas with Nemo & Friends in 2005.
