Disney World feels like it’s full of “blink and you’ll miss it” moments, and seeing its newest residents grow up right before your eyes is no exception.
While it’s neat to visit and “ohh” and “ahh” over the animals you’ll see doing things like the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails, and the Maharajah Jungle Trek, it’s important to keep in mind that these animals are here with a purpose.
Not many people are aware of the conservation efforts Disney World provides in its park at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Sure, it’s entertaining to watch them as you walk or ride by, but Disney’s also contributing to helping some of the world’s endangered species continue to thrive and live their lives as naturally as possible. And, sometimes those efforts pay off when new baby animals are born at the park and we get our chance to see them up close for the first time when they’re the tiniest! Let’s take a look at who’s been born at Disney World most recently.
Basko the Tiger
Basko, the baby Sumatran tiger, is one of the newest residents of the Maharajah Jungle Trek.
This bouncing baby boy is just one of fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild and in managed care, so this adorable baby’s birth is a big contribution to the endangered species. According to Dr. Natalie, “Tiger births are rare in managed care and take a lot of planning and coordinating by our animal care team and the Species Survival Plan,” which makes his appearance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom something special!
Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato the Otters
In December 2024, baby otters made their debut at the park, too!
This trio of Asian small-clawed otters were born to parents Kevin and Mae. Fun fact about these little guys: they were born with their eyes shut, are the smallest otter species, and you can now get a peek at them hanging around Otter Grotto inside the park.
Tucker the Giraffe
Even the biggest of babies don’t go unnoticed around Disney World!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed its newest Masai giraffe when baby Tucker was born. And we watched in awe when Tucker joined proud Mom, Mara, on April 7th as they walked out on the savanna for the first time together!
Cada the Zebra
Cada is actually a second-born to mom Juno at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and has joined her big sister Cricket out in the savannah, now.
Cada’s birth joins the generations that now span both Disney’s Animal Kingdom park and hotel. She’s also one of several Hartmann’s Mountain Zebras to claim Disney World as their home within the past few years.
Baby Eland
A healthy baby girl was delivered by mom Cleo back in the summer of 2024, and both mom and baby are doing wonderful.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, an eland is a type of antelope.
Elijah the Okapi
Ok, you caught us — Elijah was technically born in October of 2023, but he didn’t actually make his debut in the park until February 2024.
Elijah was named after an outstanding Cast Member who plays a massive role in maintaining the animal habitats in the park, so to honor his work, Disney named the new okapi after him.
Corra the Elephant
Corra is the newest elephant of the bunch, but she’s got a BIG personality!
Corra made her debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park’s savannah when she was just 2 months old back in February 2024. This sweet baby is the first second-generation elephant in the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as her mother, Nadirah, was also born at Animal Kingdom!
There are a lot of new animals to celebrate at Disney World, and if you’re not visiting them soon, you might miss them when they’re young and super playful! Stay tuned with us at AllEars as we bring you the latest Disney news, changes, updates, and more!
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Which of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s newest additions has been your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!
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