Tanimura the Tiny but Tough Manatee Joins EPCOT's Rehab

Disney's Animals, Science and Environment team welcomes a new manatee to be rehabilitated to return to the wild

A new splash of hope arrives at EPCOT! Meet Tanimura, a petite 300‑pound orphaned manatee now under expert care at The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion. Tanimura joins fellow young manatees Cider and Mermaid in Disney’s short‑term, critical‑care rehab program that is designed to nurse underweight or injured manatees back to health before releasing them into Florida waterways at EPCOT.

Tanimura has joined EPCOT for rehabilitation

This initiative continues Disney’s long‑standing commitment to wildlife conservation in collaboration with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Their efforts are crucial following a recent mortality event that saw over 2,000 manatees lost between 2020 and 2022, largely due to boat strikes and habitat decline.

Guests visiting EPCOT’s aquatic sanctuary can now witness firsthand how Disney blends education with action—showing how a beloved “little sea cow” can grow stronger and return to wild waters. Tanimura is expected to stay only a few months as part of this environmentally focused rotation.

What’s your favorite marine animal at Disney, and why?

Photo & Source: Disney's Animals, Science & Environment