Disney’s Animal Programs team helps take final measurements and readings as they prepare to release a manatee into his natural habitat at Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, FL. A manatee, named “Bock,” was released Tuesday February 24th 2009 into the warm waters of… Read More »Manatee’s Rehabilitation at Epcot Over, Released back into wild
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed the birth of two Ruppell’s Griffon Vultures earlier this month. They are the first hatchings of this threatened species at Walt Disney World Resort. Each chick weighed less than six ounces and was about eight inches long when hatched. Over… Read More »Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomes baby Griffon Vultures
On the day after Christmas in 2008, we were at Disney’s Animal Kingdom enjoying some family time together and decided to attend a showing of The Festival Of The Lion King. The crowd was growing and there were a lot of disabled to seat, so… Read More »Unruly Crowd does The Wave at Festival Of The Lion King
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) is currently accepting applications for its 2009 grants. Since its inception more than 10 years ago, the DWCF has contributed more than $12 million to the study and protection of the world’s wildlife and ecosystems, providing funding for a… Read More »Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Now Accepting Applications for 2009
Even with ears that rival Dumbo’s aviation assisting devices, the latest animal baby to be welcomed by Disney’s Animal Kingdom is darn cute. Presley, the 28th gerenuk calf to be born at DAK, weighed in at six pounds and approximately two feet tall, after a… Read More »Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomes new Antelope Calf, so cute!
Everybody’s wondering what is in the giraffe’s drinking water at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Walt Disney World Resort is having a bit of a baby boom this year with the birth of a fourth baby giraffe. Entering the world at 6-feet tall and 155 pounds, Bonsu… Read More »Welcome Bonsu! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Fourth Baby Giraffe This Year
Over on this Ask.Mefi thread I was giving advice on how to do Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a day if you’re a first time visitor. Which got me thinking, I certainly have my habits, likes, and dislikes. Perhaps I’m in a bit of a rut… Read More »Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a day
Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently welcomed a new baby elephant into the world. Isn’t he cute.
26-year old Moyo, the mother, gave birth to a 327-pound male elephant June 28 after 21 months gestation. 22 months is the average gestation period, and the longest of any land mammal. Both Mother and son, as yet unnamed, are reported in good condition and expected to survive.
This is the fourth elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Tufani, who is Moyo’s first male calf, was born in 2003; Kianga, a female, was born in 2004; and Nadirah, the youngest female, joined the herd in 2005. All remain on the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Moyo herself came to DAK in 1997 from a zoo in Tacoma, WA after her capture in the wilds of Zimbabwe in 1983.
Having toured the facilities and met with the Animal Care team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom I can vouch for the amazing level of care they provide for the animals they supervise. The Animal Care program goes well above and beyond the AZA rules for care and breeding. So much that many of the AZA breeding program studbooks are run by DAK staff.
The full Press Release is below the cut:
Read More »New Baby Elephant Welcomed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom