LEFT & ABOVE : Animal experts conduct important sea turtle research at Disney ’ s Vero Beach Resort . © DISNEY
CARING FOR YOUNG MARINE LIFE : A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE While many land animals like elephants and tigers rely on their mothers for care in the wild , most marine species don ’ t receive parental support after birth . For example , scalloped hammerhead sharks , which have a gestation period of nine to 12 months , leave their young to fend for themselves immediately after birth . At The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT , Disney ’ s Animal Care team steps in , transferring young marine species to smaller sea pens , which Disney adorably likens to “ elementary schools ,” where they ’ re monitored and trained for feeding and voluntary medical care until they ’ re ready to move on to the larger habitats . Behavioral training , such as voluntary target following , helps train animals to cooperate in future vet visits .
Disney ’ s Animal Care efforts extend to Disney ’ s Vero Beach Resort , a Disney Vacation Club property . Here , they monitor sea turtle nests during the
summer nesting season along the 5-mile coastline and determine the number of sea turtle hatchlings produced from the nests . During the May to October season , guests can observe sea turtle research and take action to protect sea turtles .
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TURTLES AT VERO BEACH in of the Month
Name : Pink a la Mode Cats and Dogs Micro Mystery Figaro Edition Size : Limited Edition 300 Year Released : 2023 Original Retail Price : $ 22 per mystery box
This miniature mystery pin showcases the expressive personality of Figaro , the mischievous kitten from Disney ' s Pinocchio ; his expressive eyes particularly capture his playful yet endearing nature . While the pin is made of hard enamel , Figaro ’ s facial features and whiskers are screen printed — which is common for such small details — and allows him to show off a curious expression . His large ears stick out over the gold-outlined metal , and the magenta , sparkled background adds a bit of flair . While the feisty feline originally premiered in Walt Disney ’ s 1940 film Pinocchio , this was not Figaro ’ s only appearance on screen . Walt loved the cat so much that he decided to make him Minnie Mouse ’ s pet for future productions . Anyone else find it funny that the man who created the world ’ s most iconic mouse fell in love with a cat ?