In just this past week, we’ve seen an increase of pre-COVID experiences returning to Walt Disney World. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway pre-show is back, Haunted Mansion’s Stretching Room has returned, and Living with the Land’s boat dividers have been removed. Another attraction is joining the list of returning to a pre-COVID experience!
One of the most popular attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris, has removed the large plastic dividers between each of their seats on the safari vehicles. As you can see in the photo above, with the dividers in place, it was difficult to see what was up ahead leaving guests sticking with the view to their immediate left or right.
We’re loving watching the return of all these experiences! We’ll keep you posted as Disney continues to return more and more attractions and experiences to their pre-COVID state.
Keepers named the zebra foal ‘Dash’ because of his “spunky spirit” and a stripe on his shoulder identical to one on his mother. Some lucky guests got to see mom Heidi give birth to Dash while riding Kilimanjaro Safaris in May.
Dash and his older sister Asha were both born as part of the Species Survival Plan program, which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The program ensures responsible breeding and genetic diversity of hundreds of animal species.
There’s a new addition to the Kilimanjaro Safaris family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: a baby mandrill named Ivy!
From Disney Parks Blog:
A baby mandrill has joined the family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. And what better time than during Earth Month?
In the spirit of the mystical mandrill Rafiki, join us in honoring the circle of life as we celebrate the arrival of this adorable newborn. The little girl was born on Saturday, April 10, to first-time mom Hazel and dad Linus. Cast members named the infant Ivy to fit in with the rest of her colorful family – Olive, Scarlett, Snow and Hazel.
We’re so excited to share this news and report that mom and newborn are healthy and bonding. Be on the lookout, because both have already been spotted by guests on Kilimanjaro Safaris. You might see the shy baby clinging to Hazel’s stomach, a natural bonding behavior. But this will change soon as the baby begins to walk within weeks of being born, spending most of the time walking underneath mom. The baby joins the troop of seven other mandrills that call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home.
Here are some interesting facts about one of the most colorful mammals found in nature. Mandrills typically have a six-month gestation period. In the mandrill social structure, females take on the majority of parental responsibilities, including grooming, nursing, and carrying the young. When you spot the mandrills, you may see them grooming one another, a behavior that promotes social bonding.
While our new arrival weighed in between 1-2 pounds, mandrills are actually the largest species of monkey. They’re also a vulnerable species found in African rainforests along the equator where their habitat is disappearing because of deforestation and poaching.
This birth is an example of how our dedicated and highly trained team of Disney animal care experts works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Species Survival Plans. With this birth, the troop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom now includes four generations of mandrills from the same family, mirroring the social system of mandrills found in the wild.
Can’t get enough of Ivy? Be sure to check her out in the video below! And if you want even more baby animals, be sure to check out our look at the white rhinoceros calf Ranger who also calls Kilimanjaro Safaris home!
A four month old white rhino calf and his mother joined the herd at Kilimanjaro Safaris today. The Vice President of Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment, Dr. Mark Penning, posted the announcement on Instagram today.
Baby Ranger is a four month old white rhino calf who was born back in October at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Ranger and his mother Kendi have joined the savanna together for the first time today, and may be seen while riding the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction.
The White Rhino is considered to be a Near Threatened species as opposed to Endangered, and this is largely in part of conservation efforts like those at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Who else is a Kilimanjaro Safaris fan?! If you’re tackling Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this attraction is one of the most popular for all the right reasons! Despite the parks being closed, Disney Cast Members are having a little fun from home. Join a Cast Member on her trip through the “savanna”! Check out the cute video below as shared on DisneyParksBlog:
Jambo, friends! Every day, we see more and more great stories of cast members and Disney fans creating magical moments at home, and we can’t help but be delighted and inspired by the true creativity in action!
One such example is Katelyn, a cast member at Kilimanjaro Safaris in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Inspired to recreate the attraction at home, she led a one-of-a-kind video safari through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, complete with some of her favorite “animals” and her very own safari vehicle. She even shared some great facts about wildlife along the way.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is definitely a favorite attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. With its amazing animals and interesting animal facts, it is no surprise that our cast members love sharing this unique experience with guests.
Be sure to keep an eye out for additional #DisneyMagicMoments and #DisneyCastLife stories sharing Disney magic from home.
