WARNING: This Disney World News Might Make You Emotional

Is this the best news we’ve heard come out of Disney’s Animal Kingdom this week? Yes, yes, it is!

We love Animal Kingdom and how much care goes into the animals that call the park home. Disney just reported that Kendi, a 27-year-old white rhino, had a successful surgery to restore her sight. We have to share the feel-good story with you.

Kendhi has been calling Animal Kingdom home for her entire 27 years of life, and she’s a part of the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Recently, keepers discovered a slight cloudiness in her right eye. It was a subtle change, but enough that those who cared for her every day noticed immediately.

It was discovered that the cloudiness was a cataract, and the condition could lead to blindness in her eye. This was something that needed to be treated right away, but removing a cataract in a white rhino is rare and highly complex. You need a lot of planning, innovation, and collaboration.

“I’ve planned for this one procedure more than any other in my life,” said Dr. Betsy, a veterinarian with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team. “It’s been one of the most rewarding moments of my career. The level of innovation pushed us to think differently – and ultimately raised the bar for what’s possible in veterinary care.”

For years and years, the husbandry team worked constantly to train Kendhi for eye drops. Eventually, Kendi became comfortable with the routine of receiving the medication up to four times a day. The dedication and preparation proved invaluable when the time finally came to perform the surgery in the rhino barn. Dr. Betsy partnered with an ophthalmologist from the University of Florida to design a procedure that adapted advanced veterinary surgical techniques for use on Kendhi.

“It was truly an honor to be part of Kendi’s care. While cataract surgery is routine in humans, performing this type of procedure on an animal — especially one as large as a white rhino — presents extraordinary challenges,” said Dr. Caryn Plummer, ophthalmologist with the University of Florida. “In Kendi’s case, the potential to restore her vision made every complexity worth navigating. This effort would not have been possible without the dedicated veterinary and animal care team at Disney, whose teamwork, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Kendi’s safety were essential. We’re hopeful that improved sight will make a meaningful difference in Kendi’s quality of life.”

Kendi is now healed and back on the savanna at Animal Kingdom. It took a while to heal, but she now has clearer vision and a renewed self. Make sure to stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney news.

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Do you have any great animal stories from Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!

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