Disney World has it all. DOLE Whip. Baby tigers. Roller coasters. Oh, and some of the sweetest manatees you have ever seen. If you’re a sucker for gentle giants like us, prepare to say, “AWWWW.”

We see a manatee; we fall in love

Disney just announced that a NEW addition has joined The Seas with Nemo and Friends in EPCOT. OK, so see that manatee pictured above? Notice the tail? That’s what a manatee’s tail should look like. But the sweet new friend that just arrived in EPCOT? Well, her tail is a little different. Her name is Mermaid, and you’ll soon see why.

A new manatee named Mermaid just arrived at Seas Pavilion on March 19th. During our visit, we spoke to a Cast Member who told us all about our new manatee friend. Mermaid was rescued north of Tampa from the Homosassa River last month. She was found in an “emaciated state,” so it’s up to Disney’s team to rehabilitate her over the next few months.

Mermaid’s tail was injured

If you look closely, you’ll notice that Mermaid’s tail is split. A Cast Member told us this was likely cut due to contact with a boat propeller (but it’s hard to be certain what happened!).

Via @drmarkatdisney

Over on Instagram, one of Disney’s animal care experts, @drmarkatdisney, shared a little more information about Mermaid. She weighs approximately 525 pounds, but like we said, she needs to gain weight and strength before she is released to the wild. Dr. Mark said, “This partnership and the care Mermaid will receive at The Seas is the next stop on her journey as she prepares for her eventual return to the wild.”

Eat ALL the lettuce!

In the past, you may have met some other manatees in EPCOT, including Lil Joe and Inigo! Earlier this year, they were relocated to the Gulfarium in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.

Lil Joe and Inigo

Disney is constantly working with experts to address the manatee crisis in Florida. Thanks to habitat loss, the effects of red tide, and watercraft accidents, manatees face a variety of threats in the wild, and hundreds are dying due to these challenges. In fact, manatees are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Protect these gentle giants!

PLEASE go visit the manatees in EPCOT — they are so fun to watch, and the Cast Members are super knowledgable! And if you see Mermaid, tell her Disney Food Blog said hi! We love her.

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

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Have you ever visited the aquariums in EPCOT? Let us know in the comments!