April is Earth Month, a celebration that holds a special place in the hearts of Disney cast members, particularly since Disney’s Animal Kingdom debuted on Earth Day, April 22, 1998. This month, we’ll be sharing great stories from the wildest Walt Disney World Resort theme park … starting today with some of my all-time favorite animal photos.
As a Disney photographer for nearly 40 years, I’ve been privileged to take photographs of the wildlife at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since the park’s very beginning. I’m in awe of the magic of nature and my favorite subject is baby animals – there’s nothing quite like watching a zebra foal or a giraffe calf take their first hesitant steps, or seeing a mother gorilla hold her infant in her arms. Case in point …
I took these photos last May only a few hours after a mother gorilla, Kashata, gave birth to her baby, Grace. I just love these tender moments as mom and baby bond. In the top image, check out how her little arm cuddles mom and they both have a totally contented, peaceful look on their faces.
What speaks to me in the second photo is Kashata’s huge hand carefully embracing Grace. The soft lighting and monochromatic background really help the pair stand out, too. And I think all parents can relate to both the joy and relief of having a newborn snuggle into your chest as you both drift off to sleep. It’s hard to believe it’s almost Grace’s first birthday, and I can’t wait to go back to Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and see how much she’s grown.
This next one is an example of fortune smiling down on me. I was using a 600mm, super-telephoto lens to capture these 4-month-old baby Sumatran tigers, Anala and Jeda, at play back in late 2017. With that long a lens, it’s easy to miss some of the minor details in a scene when you are actually taking the photos. The cubs were about 50 yards away when I snapped this picture of them playing together in the shade next to their mom, Sohni.
I knew I had something good, but I didn’t realize just how good until I returned to my office and looked at the images on a big screen. That’s when I saw … one of the cubs had the other’s tail in its mouth! I laughed out loud when I saw this picture up close, and it still brings me joy to this day.
I figure we can all use a little joy in our lives right now, so I hope you like these photos as much as I do. And keep checking the Disney Parks Blog during Earth Month as we share more special moments from Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Comments
Gorgeous pictures!
My daughter and grandson were in the parks the weekend before his 14th birthday 3-8-2020. He got sick his last day 3-9 and missed getting me an updated pic up our Gorilla family or my Flower and Garden Show Ears and shirts . Had to cancel our plans in January February due to husbands unexpected prostate cancer surgery and unimaginable complications. We almost lost him. Where does my husband want to go as soon as he could walk and feel human? WDW of course. We can be counted on to be back. The weeks we had to cancel were to be an incentive to to work hard in physical therapy after my first of 2 total knee replacement surgeries I had Nov.14th. We don’t go during heavy traffic times as our small scooters we both have to use in order to do the parks as we have aged. Now both are cancer survivors. Survivors of back and leg injuries that make it uncomfortable to get looks and comments that we are just lazy on a scooter from ill-mannered rude people just wanting to run through Disney in one or 2 days then move on to Universal and then a beach. We enjoy every show. Miss every former ride. Can’t wait to see what comes next! Imagineers do your thing!
I love these pics and I have unintentionally created a family album of baby Grace and her family for the last 15 years. I couldn’t wait to see her ! I have bonded as many Disney families have. My grandson was 5 or6,He wanted a brother. Graces older!
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