After spending about two months in their backstage habitat bonding with other members of their herd, three sable antelope calves, born this summer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, have joined the herd on the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna. The calves – two males and one female – were cared for in their backstage home because sable moms typically will “tuck” their calves in high grass to protect them from the predators they might encounter in the wild and return to them periodically for feeding. This behavior could prevent our animal care team from being able to monitor the calves properly. The calves are now old enough to be out of the “tucking” phase and are spending the day traveling with the rest of the sable antelope herd, as seen in this photo by Gene Duncan.

At birth, the calves weighed between 35 and 40 pounds. When they reach adulthood, the female will weigh nearly 400 pounds, and the males will be about 50 pounds heavier. In their native habitat in southern Africa, the sable’s natural predator is the lion and other carnivores. Like many African species, sable antelopes compete for living space with humans.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests can see the sables when they ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Another great way to see the sable antelope – and a host of other African wildlife – is by experiencing the Wild Africa Trek, a special adventure that includes a VIP safari and a visit to an exclusive safari camp with fantastic views of the wildlife on the savanna.

Sable antelope fun facts:

• The sable has a short glossy coat, which ranges in color from a yellow- or reddish-brown to a rich chestnut found in females and their young.
• When fighting, they go down on their knees, displaying their long curving horns, which measure 20 to 61 inches.
• They have a high-pitched squeal and produce a horse-like snort when alarmed.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

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

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge guests may get a glimpse of a rare and unusual baby animal in a month or so when our new okapi calf goes out on the resort’s Pembe savanna. The female calf, born Oct. 1, is backstage bonding with her mom in this great photo taken by Gene Duncan. Our animal care managers report that mom and baby are doing very well.

The Pembe savanna in Kidani Village presents an exceptional opportunity for guests to see okapi in a large, mixed-species savanna habitat right outside the guests’ hotel rooms throughout the day and into the evening.

The okapi is considered rare and is classified as near threatened. The main threat is habitat loss due to logging and human settlement as well as hunting for the bush meat and skin trade.

Okapi fun facts:

• There are fewer than one hundred okapi in North American zoological facilities.
• The okapi with its white and black striped legs is often thought to be related to the zebra but actually is the only living relative of the giraffe. The stripes work as camouflage when hiding in the partial sunlight that filters through the forest canopy.
• Okapi are typically solitary animals, living alone or in mother-offspring pairs. They are extremely wary and secretive, making okapi very difficult to observe in the lowland rainforest of central Africa where they make their home.
• The okapi’s gestation period is about 14 months, with the calf typically weighing between 50 and 60 pounds at birth.
• Adult okapi can reach weights of 550-720 pounds with females typically being larger than males. They can live over 30 years in zoological facilities.
• Normally silent, female okapi vocalize with a soft “chuff” during courtship and when calling to their calves. There are infrasonic qualities to their call, which are below the frequency that the human ear can pick up.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

You could say that less is more for a flamingo chick hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this past summer. The chick, a member of the lesser flamingo species, is being raised by our park’s greater flamingos, a larger flamingo species. How did a “lesser” wind up with the “greaters”? Here’s the story as told by animal keepers Kris Becker, Shawnlei Breeding and Laura Gruber.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrated the hatching of a female lesser flamingo on July 16, the first lesser flamingo to be hatched at the park. The egg was laid on June 19 in a habitat near The Tree of Life. While nest building and other reproductive behaviors have been observed over the past eight years within the lesser flamingo flock, this was the first time any eggs had been laid by the group. Due to a variety of factors, a decision was made to remove the egg from the nest and incubate it at our backstage Avian Research Center. Sixteen days later, the egg was placed under a pair of greater flamingos in their habitat on the Kilimanjaro Safaris whose egg had been determined to be nonviable. The greater flamingos were experienced parents who had previously raised chicks successfully.

These foster parents incubated the egg for another 11 days before it hatched. Their original egg was scheduled to hatch on July 3, so they sat an additional 13 days on the new egg. The chick continues to be fostered by the greater flamingo pair in a flock of 21 male and 23 female birds, as well as 7 greater flamingo chicks. Although small in stature, the lesser flamingo chick is big in attitude and fits in well with the rest of the flock.

Lesser flamingo fun facts:

• Lesser flamingos are found in southern and western Africa. They also can be found in India and Pakistan.
• Standing about 31 inches tall, the lesser flamingo is a foot or more shorter than the greater flamingo.
• Population estimates in the wild vary between three and four million birds.
• The breeding was a recommendation of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is focused on sustaining the lesser flamingo population.

Take a look back at more of Disney Parks’ conservation efforts:

• Wildlife Wednesdays: Jane Goodall Global Leadership Award Presented to Disney for Protecting Wildlife and Nature
• Wildlife Wednesdays: Guests Help Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Set Record
• Disney Cruise Line Summer Camps Inspire Children to Care About the Planet

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

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

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we recently welcomed our very first Abyssinian ground hornbill chick. Zazu, from The Lion King, is a red-billed hornbill, so you could say that the chick is Zazu’s “cousin.” Steve Metzler, Animal Operations Manager, reports that the chick is doing great and mom is doing a wonderful job protecting and feeding it. The chick weighed 3.6 ounces at 2 days old. Its weight was checked as part of the chick’s neo-natal exam. These “well-baby exams” are performed on our newborn animals by our veterinarians to assess their overall condition. Adult female Abyssinian ground hornbills typically weigh 7-9 pounds and males weigh 12-14 pounds. We won’t know the sex of the new chick for several months.

Hornbills are what are referred to as “altricial” birds, meaning that when they hatch their eyes are closed, they have no down, they are incapable of leaving the nest and they are fed by the parents. Unlike some other bird species, like chickens and ducks, they will be cared for in the nest for several months and will slowly grow feathers and start looking more and more like the adult birds.

In the wild, Abyssinian ground hornbills live on the African savannas north of the equator and south of the Sahara Desert. They are active during the day, foraging and hunting, and usually roam in pairs or in groups of three or four when young birds are present. These hornbills are mostly carnivorous and walk the savannah using their big bills to capture prey such as snakes and small mammals. They also will eat some fruits and seeds. Abyssinian ground hornbills rarely fly, preferring to walk or run when threatened – although they can and will fly if needed.

The biggest threat to hornbills in the wild is habitat loss. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for Abyssinian ground hornbills recommends expanding the current population numbers in accredited facilities to improve the overall genetic health of the population. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is committed to breeding this species to contribute to the overall goals of the SSP. Steve notes that this chick represents a great first step in contributing to our overall knowledge and experience with breeding this species.

The new chick and its mom are bonding in an off-show area, where the animal care team can closely monitor them. Over the next few months, the team hopes to introduce mom and chick back to dad, who is out on the Pembe savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, so all three will be on show together.

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Fun Facts:

• It can take three to four years for young hornbills to get full adult coloration.
• The ground hornbill has very long eyelashes that not only look attractive but protect its eyes from injury. The eyelashes are modified feathers.
• The hornbill has a distinctive casque on top of its large bill, which is unique to the hornbill family. The casque is made of keratin that overlies bony support. It is multifunctional: it is used in identifying the age, sex and species of the hornbill; amplifies vocalizations; and helps reinforce the beak.
• These vocal birds make a series of deep booming calls that announce their presence to other birds.
• The head is supported by strong neck muscles and strengthened by the fusion of the first two neck vertebrae, unique among birds.
• In some African villages it is customary to have a resident hornbill; villagers believe the bird brings them good luck. In some parts of their range, hornbills are considered sacred.

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

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Earns Four-Diamond Status
• Exploring the Wanyama Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney Ornaments Created from Ostrich Eggs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Tagged: DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

Have you had a chance when visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see any of our animals being examined or cared for in our veterinary hospital? Guests visiting Rafiki’s Planet Watch earlier this month were able to witness a momentous occasion – our three baby Fennec foxes’ first check-ups.

Similar to most first wellness exams, the foxes’ exams included getting their eyes and ears checked, their overall condition assessed and receiving their vaccinations. The exams showed that the kits (baby foxes are called kits) are in great health, thanks to excellent care by their parents, and, of course, Disney’s animal care team.

In the wild, Fennec foxes live in the deserts of northern Africa. While they aren’t currently threatened with extinction, they may become so if their population is not closely monitored and protected. A big threat to the foxes is being trapped and sold as pets. One way all of us can help wildlife conservation is to choose our pets wisely, which includes not taking animals from the wild.

The foxes were born April 8 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Lori Bruckheim, one of our zoological managers, reports that the kits are now eating solid foods and are extremely active. They are currently being raised by their parents in a backstage area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom under close observation by the animal care team.

The breeding was a recommendation of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is focused on sustaining the Fennec fox population. For more on Disney conservation efforts, visit www.disney.com/conservation.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

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

After six and a half months of waiting, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is welcoming a “colorful” addition to its animal family. A male baby mandrill was born May 30 to first-time mother Kelley and is the third born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Mom and baby are doing very well.

Native to Africa, mandrills are among the largest species of monkey in the world and are considered endangered. They’re known for their bright coloration, furry head crests, manes and beards. Adults also have thick purple and blue ridges along their noses, red lips and golden beards. Fans of Disney’s animated movie “The Lion King” might recall Rafiki, who was not only a colorful character, but a mandrill as well.

So far, our primate team members are encouraged by the bonding between mother and infant. The baby spends most of his day nursing and sleeping, and the primate team has been closely observing Kelley and her baby to ensure that all continues to go well.

Barb Weber, one of our primate zoological managers, reports that the new mom is very relaxed but protective. The primate team is pleased that young female mandrill Scarlett has taken a keen interest in the newborn, noting that this is a great experience for her because she is learning from the baby’s mom how to be a good mom herself.

The baby and mom are starting to make short forays into their habitat on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, joining other members of the mandrill group. In these photos, taken by Gene Duncan, baby and mom are in their backstage home.

With the new baby, the number of mandrills that make their home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has grown to 12. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that is focused on sustaining the mandrill population. For more information on Disney conservation efforts, visit www.disney.com/conservation.

Fun Facts:

• Disney’s animal care experts do not separate mandrill moms from their babies to weigh them if all is going well after birth. Therefore, they don’t know exactly how much the baby weighs. Their guess: 2 pounds or less.
• Preparations for motherhood began long before the baby mandrill was born. For example, primate keepers train future moms to pick up objects to simulate picking up their baby after it is born.
• Adult female mandrills weigh an average of 30 pounds. Adult males are larger and average 60-100 pounds.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

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

Unless you work in animal care, you probably wouldn’t think cheap perfume and tigers are a likely match. But at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the scent of the wild can be found in hundreds of perfume bottles being recycled by Disney Parks cast members as part of their Earth Day activities.

Animal care professionals have long used unique aromas such as perfumes and spices as enrichment tools to help maintain an animal’s physical and mental health. Special treats such as toys, foods 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. With a very keen sense of smell, large cats such as tigers, cheetahs and lions like to scratch, roll and mark their own scents on logs sprayed with cologne.

In addition to “aromatherapy,” we provide lions, cheetahs and tigers with a variety of other enrichment items and activities to keep the cats interested in their environments.

• Super tough plastic balls for chasing and swatting promotes physical activity.
• Drilling a hole in the ball and stuffing it with hard-to-get treats increases the challenge and the excitement.
• During the summer, frozen treats may contain meat to help the cats stay cool and encourage them to use their teeth, claws and ingenuity to get to the food inside.
• A habitat complete with hills, tall grasses, shade trees, rocks, shrubs, fabricated termite mounds, dead trees, stumps and a sweeping view of the savanna provide opportunities to rest, communicate, interact, hide and explore.

Enrichment such as perfume is just one of the tools used to provide excellent care for our animals. We also rely on positive training methods that encourage animals to participate in their daily health care and challenge them to stay mentally active.

Positive conditioning techniques train the animals to cooperate with their own medical care, which makes the vets’ work much easier and safer. For example, with a hand signal or verbal cue from a zoological manager, lions, cheetahs and tigers voluntarily open their mouths for dental exams or stand on a portable scale for routine weight checks. They also present their tails or paws during medical check-ups.

This attention to care is given to all of the more than 1,700 animals representing more than 250 species at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests can see lions and cheetahs on the savanna of Kilimanjaro Safaris while the tigers can be seen on the Maharajah Jungle Trek in the Asia section of the theme park.

Tagged: Conservation, DAK, WDW

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