It is with tremendous pride that I share the news that a member of my team, Anne Savage, Ph.D., senior conservation biologist at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, has been nominated to receive the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation.

This award is presented every two years to a conservationist who has devoted his or her life to saving the Earth’s endangered species. Anne has been recognized for creating numerous programs that blend conservation and education to protect the cotton-top tamarin, a critically endangered one-pound monkey found only in Colombia, South America. Specifically called out by the nominating committee is Anne’s work in establishing August 15 as the “Day of the Cotton-Top, ” now a national holiday in Colombia, which has inspired a movement in that country to save the small monkey. Also cited is Anne’s work in establishing the eco-mochila program in Los Limites, in which plastic bags are crocheted into beautiful tote bags by local Colombian women. The program not only frees local forests of plastic-bag litter but employs more than 300 women, with the bags being sold in many venues, including shops at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You can learn more about this program at www.proyectotiti.com.

Here at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests may see Anne at the Wildlife Tracking Center at Conservation Station, where she and her team do real science with the fun twist that Anne is known for and inspire and inform guests about projects under way to protect and learn about such varied species as her beloved cotton-tops, sea turtles and African elephants. Guests can see cotton-top tamarins near The Tree of Life and at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

The Indianapolis Prize nominating committee will select six finalists from the 29 nominees. The finalists will be announced in the spring 2012. The prize jury will then determine the winner, who will be announced in mid-2012 and honored at the next Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 29, 2012, in Indianapolis.

In addition to receiving the $100,000 prize, the recipient also is awarded the Lilly Medal, an original work of art that signifies the winner’s contributions to conserving some of the world’s most threatened animals. The 2010 Indianapolis Prize was awarded to legendary elephant advocate Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who also was honored by the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in 2006. A diverse group of entertainment legends, scientists and philanthropists, including Jane Alexander, Harrison Ford, Marvin Hamlisch and Carl Hiaasen are lending their support as Honorary Chairs of the 2012 Indianapolis Prize.

I know I speak for the entire Animals, Science and Environment team when I say that we are incredibly proud of Anne and all she has done for the conservation of wildlife and wild places.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

Our Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests have been “oohing and aahing” when they see our newest baby elephant Jabali, born August 24, on the Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Wild Africa Trek. Jabali, who weighed 311 pounds at birth, is growing and thriving. Our elephant care team reports that he weighed in this week at 464 pounds!

Disney Parks Blog readers have been big fans of Jabali, so the team thought you would appreciate seeing some video we captured of Jabali with his mom, Vasha, and other members of our elephant family on the savanna. Enjoy!

See more of baby Jabali on Disney Parks Blog:

• Baby Elephant Receives Warm Welcome at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Baby Elephant Named “Jabali”– “Strong as a Rock” in Swahili
• Wildlife Wednesdays: Baby Elephant Joins Herd on Savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Wildlife Wednesdays: Baby Elephants Jabali and Luna Are Becoming the Best of Friends at
  Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, Video, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

As part of our focus on excellence in animal care, our animal experts provide Disney’s Animal Kingdom wildlife with a variety of enrichment items. These special treats, such as foods, toys or fragrance, prompt animals to explore, make choices and maintain a level of activity in their habitat similar to their natural behavior in the wild.

In celebration of Halloween, several animal species were treated to pumpkins as enrichment. Click on the video, and watch the fun!

Tagged: DAK, Halloween, Video, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

We just couldn’t resist doing another post on our baby elephant Jabali, born August 24 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Now that he’s out on the savanna with the herd, each day brings new discoveries. Of course, mom Vasha and big sister Kianga are always nearby, and our animal care team is keeping a watchful eye.

Since they’re so close in age and elephants are very social, we were wondering how Jabali and Luna (who turned one year old a few months ago) would get along. Members of our elephant team report that, at first, when Jabali approached Luna, she would run away, probably not sure what to make of the new kid on the block. Then, once she became more comfortable, she would try to wake him up when he took a nap – until big sister Kianga put a stop to that. Now, the team reports Jabali and Luna are hanging out together.

And it’s been wonderful to hear from our Kilimanjaro Safaris and Wild Africa Trek guests (and Disney Parks Blog and Walt Disney World Facebook readers too!) how much they’ve enjoyed seeing Jabali and the rest of herd during recent visits.

(Photos courtesy of the Elephant Team)

Tagged: DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

At less than two weeks old, our new baby elephant, Jabali, already is being introduced to the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This is great news for our guests who might catch a glimpse of him when they experience the Kilimanjaro Safaris, and a great accomplishment for both our animal care team and our elephants.

When our first baby elephant, Tufani, was born in 2003, he spent several months in his backstage home with his mom before joining the herd on the savanna. The animal care team had much work to do introducing him to the rest of the herd. After all, he was the very first baby for the group.

Jabali is our sixth baby elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so now introductions are much easier. Our elephant team members explain that highly intelligent animals like elephants learn a lot from experience and each other (with great care and training from the team too, of course). So, for example, when Jabali was being introduced to the herd’s matriarch Rafiki, if you could read the bubble over her head, it might say, “I know exactly what you are—and welcome to the family!”

Facts about our elephants:

• Our elephant herd has 12 members.
• Six baby elephants (Tufani, Kianga, Nadirah, Tsavo, Luna and Jabali) have been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums www.AZA.org that is focused on sustaining the elephant population in North America.
• The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and the Disney Foundation have directed over $1 million to projects in 20 countries to help protect and conserve elephants in the wild.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

A name has been chosen for our baby elephant, born last week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is Jabali, which means “strong as a rock” in Swahili—a great name for a male calf that will grow to well over 10,000 pounds.

Deciding on a name for the baby elephant was quite a process. Names were submitted by team members and voted on—then the list was narrowed down and voted on again.

Jabali is doing very well as he continues the bonding process with his mom, Vasha. He’s also receiving a lot of attention from his older sister Kianga who has been showering him with affection.

Since early August, our animal care team has provided round-the-clock monitoring, regular ultrasounds and daily hormone monitoring of Vasha to more accurately predict the beginning of labor. In the past few years, the team has been able to narrow the birth window to within four days, which enables them to better prepare for the delivery.

Every day brings new discoveries for Jabali, as he continues to gradually acclimate to the rest of the savannah herd over the next several weeks.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

We’re proud to report that the elephant herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom got just a little larger with the birth yesterday (August 24) of our newest calf. Weighing 311 pounds, the male African elephant (no name yet!) was welcomed into the group by his mother Vasha, 10 herd members and our animal care professionals assisting with the birth.

This latest addition is the second calf for 25-year-old Vasha, who gave birth to a female calf, Kianga, in 2004. The natural bonding between mother and calf is fascinating to watch (wish I could spend the whole day watching our elephants!). The team is encouraged by the early interaction between mother and calf and will continue to monitor them closely for the next several weeks. These great photos of mom, big sister, and the new calf were taken by Disney photographer Gene Duncan.

The next critical milestone is for the calf to continue the bonding process with his mother who will teach him important lessons and protect him as he gradually acclimates to the rest of the savannah herd over the next several weeks.

Vasha became pregnant through artificial insemination in October 2009 and received extensive pre-natal care throughout pregnancy. Since early August, our animal care team has provided round-the-clock monitoring, regular ultrasounds and daily hormone monitoring to more accurately predict the beginning of labor. In the past few years, Disney’s animal care teams have been able to narrow the birth window to within four days, which enables them to better prepare for the delivery.

This is the sixth elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Others include:

• Tufani, a male, born in 2003;
• Kianga, a female, born in 2004;
• Nadirah a female, born in 2005;
• Tsavo, a male, born in 2008;
• Luna, a female born 2010.

All six remain at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Of the many animal care and conservation efforts undertaken by the Animals, Science and Environment team, there’s none that we’re more proud of than the team’s work on behalf of elephants. These efforts not only benefit elephants in the wild and in zoological facilities, they also benefit people in communities in Africa – and connect the millions of Guests who visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom with one of the most amazing creatures in the animal world. After all, who wouldn’t be inspired by seeing a herd of elephants (Disney’s Animal Kingdom has one of the largest African elephant herds in North America), including youngsters, in such a beautiful setting.

Disney has been at the forefront of efforts to better understand and care for endangered elephants. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) www.AZA.org that is focused on sustaining the elephant population in North America. AZA’s Elephant Species Survival Plan has called for a five-fold increase in African elephant reproduction efforts – using both natural and artificial breeding methods – in order to create a self-sustaining elephant population among North American zoos and wildlife centers. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and the Disney Foundation have directed over $1 million to projects in 20 countries to help protect and conserve elephants in the wild.

For more on the elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, see the posts below:

• Wildlife Wednesdays: First Birthday for Baby Elephant Luna and Conserving Elephants in the Wild
• Baby Elephant Takes First Steps on Kilimanjaro Safaris Savannah
• UPDATED: New Baby Elephant, a Girl, Arrives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort