Disney World is permanently relocating its three dolphins from The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion at Epcot, while also swapping manatees with a rehabilitation center.
Disney announced in a Tuesday press release that all three of its dolphins will be moved to a new home at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, late next month.
“This decision came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas,” Disney’s press release stated. “Through the extraordinary care from our team, 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.”
Attractions Magazine reported that Disney has no plans to bring in other dolphins in the future.
Disney will also be saying goodbye to one of its manatees, Lou, who will be moved to an unnamed manatee rehab center as soon as Wednesday. Unlike the dolphins, Lou will be replaced by another manatee to become a companion to Epcot’s other manatee, named Lil Joe.
“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 has seen declining manatee populations in the past few years,” Disney said.
Theme Park Tribune has previously reported on Disney’s dolphins and how the resort escaped the scrutiny applied to other theme parks that which feature captive marine mammals, such as SeaWorld.
Naomi Rose, senior marine mammal biology scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute, told Theme Park Tribune in an email: “We’re really grateful to Disney for finally removing these dolphins from the Epcot exhibit. It’s been there for years and it’s never been appropriate. It’s unfortunate that the company decided to send these dolphins to another dolphinarium in Florida, but at least there will no longer be captive dolphins at Disney.”